BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Construction Industry

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what discussions he has had with employers' organisations and trade unions on skills shortages in the construction industry.

Stephen Timms: I have had no such meetings with the industry though I am looking forward to having discussions with them on a range of issues. My predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Barking (Margaret Hodge), discussed skills and other matters with the industry and trade unions on many occasions.

Post Office Closures

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many voluntary and compulsory closures of post offices there will be over the next two years; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: The Government have set out a policy framework for the future of the post office network and announced up to £1.7 billion to set the network on a more stable footing. Post Office Ltd. will need to make strategic changes to the network including the compensated closure of up to 2,500 sub-post offices by the end of 2008. The Post Office will carry out the programme on a compulsory basis to ensure that it meets the Government's objectives of maintaining a truly national network providing the right services in the right places.

Regulation

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what plans he has to reform the process of regulation.

John Hutton: We have set out a range of measures to reduce the burden of regulation on business, the public sector and third sector. Further measures will be announced shortly.
	The World Bank ranks us sixth in the world and first in the EU for ease of doing business.

Enterprise

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what recent measures he has introduced to encourage and support people who wish to start their own enterprise.

Stephen Timms: This Government continue to encourage and support people who wish to start their own enterprises via Business Link branded services. Business Link assisted 183,000 pre-starts in the year ending March 2007.
	The Business Link website www.businesslink.gov.uk also attracted 7 million unique visitors in the year ending March 2007.

World Trade Organisation

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, if he will make a statement on progress in the World Trade Organisation talks.

Gareth Thomas: We regret that G4 members failed to agree a common platform in the DDA negotiations last week in Potsdam. We welcome Pascal Lamy's intention to continue negotiations in Geneva. We continue to encourage all WTO members to work constructively with Pascal Lamy and the Chairs of the Negotiating Groups to try to take the negotiations forward to achieving an ambitious, pro-development outcome to the Doha Round.

Insolvency Service

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent assessment he has made of the performance of the Insolvency Service; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: The performance of the Insolvency Service is assessed by Ministers following the submission of a quarterly report by the Agency Chief Executive, the most recent report being received in May 2007. Ministers also assessed the performance of the agency in setting its targets for 2007-08. The targets set for 2007-08 were announced in the House by way of ministerial statement on 29 March 2007.

Departmental Contracts

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what mechanisms are in place to reduce the risk of corruption in the award or approval of contracts by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The Department is committed to meeting its legal and best practice obligations as set out in "Government Accounting" and the Public Contracts Regulations 2006. The Department has a zero tolerance policy for fraud and corruption.

Asphalt

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what volume of asphalt was produced in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and what estimate his Department has made of the volume of asphalt which will be produced in the next five years.

Stephen Timms: The Office for National Statistics publishes data on natural bitumen, natural asphalt, asphaltites and asphaltic rocks as part of its annual publication 'Product Sales and Trade PRA 14500: Other Mining and Quarrying'. However, data for UK manufacturer sales are suppressed as being statistically disclosive.
	The Quarry Products Association estimates that the asphalt industry produces more than 26 million tonnes of asphalt every year.

Carbon Sequestration

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what work his Department is undertaking on the research and development of carbon sequestration in the United Kingdom.

John Hutton: The Government announced in the Budget in March 2007 that a competition to build the UK's first commercial scale demonstration of carbon capture and storage will take place. As indicated in the recent "Energy White Paper", the competition is expected to launch in November and we intend that it will be up and running sometime between 2011 and 2014. Current indications are that we will be among the first—if not the first—in the world to do this.
	The Government are also working towards a regulatory regime which will manage the safe and reliable storage of CO2 and does not conflict with international agreements. We currently expect to consult on UK regulation of CCS in November.
	Regulatory work also includes amendments to international conventions and working towards the inclusion of CCS in the EU ETS. The UK has already taken the lead in proposing and securing amendments to the London convention and OSPAR treaties which legalise CO2 storage beneath the seabed, a major step towards enabling the implementation of CCS.
	With Norway we have established a taskforce to establish the underlying principles for CO2 storage in the North sea basin. The work of the taskforce is progressing well and has already produced its first deliverable, a report on a set of common principles for the regulation and management for storing CO2 in geological formations beneath the seabed.
	DBERR also supports research and development for carbon capture and storage (CCS) through the Technology programme. During 2005-06 some £3.5 million was set aside for Carbon Abatement Technologies of which £2.3 million has been allocated to CCS. This funding will continue through 2007 at which stage the new arrangements for the Technology Strategy Board and Energy Technologies Institute will be introduced.
	Additionally £35 million has been allocated for the demonstration of components for CCS technologies. To date some £1.4 million of those funds has been set aside for one project.
	Funding is also made available by the Research Councils. The following table outlines their expenditure on CCS research to date:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2000-01 23,000 
			 2001-02 42,000 
			 2002-03 78,000 
			 2003-04 30,000 
			 2004-05 966,000 
			 2005-06 1,072,000

Departments: Common Purpose

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much his Department paid to Common Purpose in each of the last five years; for what purpose; and what the outcome of the expenditure was.

Gareth Thomas: Central records indicate that no payments have been made to Common Purpose in any of the financial years 2003-04 to date.
	Further information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Consultants

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much the Department spent on  (a) management consultants and  (b) other external consultants and advisers in each year since 2000; and which of these consultants undertook work for the Department with a total contractual value in excess of £10 million over this period.

Gareth Thomas: The DTI introduced a new finance system during 2003-04 and obtaining figures prior to 2003 from the old system would be at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  (a): Yearly expenditure figures for management consultancy, since 2003 
			   £ 
			 2003-04 1,223,423 
			 2004-05 24,586,199 
			 2005-06 48,571,422 
			 2006-07 40,188,012 
		
	
	
		
			  (b): Yearly expenditure figures for external consultants and advisors since 2003 
			   £ 
			 2003-04 25,386 
			 2004-05 8,662,643 
			 2005-06 22,704,241 
			 2006-07 17,658,011 
		
	
	Over the same period the Department did not spend £10 million or more on any single contractual consultancy service.
	Government procurement exercises above £500 are subject to fair and open competition. We ensure that we follow procurement practices laid down by HM Treasury to achieve value for money.

Departments: Foreign Workers

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which agencies of his Department maintain offices overseas; in which countries each agency maintains an office; how many staff work in each; and what the cost of each office was in 2005-06.

Gareth Thomas: I can confirm that my Department's agencies do not have any offices overseas.
	Where UK trade and investment operate overseas, the buildings are maintained and managed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Homosexuality: Intimidation

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps are being taken by the Government to tackle homophobic bullying in the workplace.

Patrick McFadden: The Government believe that workers should be able to work without fear of being bullied or harassed in the workplace. The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 provide specific protection against discrimination, victimisation and harassment in the workplace on the grounds of sexual orientation. Individuals who feel that they have been treated unfairly on those grounds may make a claim to an Employment Tribunal.
	ACAS has published guidance on the legislation and provides a nationwide telephone advice line offering assistance to employers and employees on bullying and other employment issues.
	The Department's Partnership at Work Fund has made available £1 million to a project involving Amicus, BT, Legal and General, BAE Systems and Royal Mail to address the issue of bullying in the workplace. The project promotes best practice and workplace initiatives to tackle bullying.

Post Offices: Cash Dispensing

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many free-to-use cash machines have been installed in sub-post offices.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. Alan Cook the managing director has been asked to reply direct to my right hon. Friend.

Post Offices: Closures

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many voluntary and compulsory closures of post offices he expects there to be over the next two years.

Patrick McFadden: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) earlier today.

Post Offices: Closures

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many  (a) voluntary and  (b) compulsory Post Office closures there will be over the next two years; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: The Government have set out a policy framework for the future of the post office network and announced up to £1.7 billion to set the network on a more stable footing. Post Office Ltd. will need to make strategic changes to the network including the compensated closure of up to 2,500 sub-post offices by the end of 2008. The Post Office will carry out the programme on a compulsory basis to ensure that it meets the Government's objectives of maintaining a truly national network providing the right services in the right places.

Post Offices: Finance

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much of the funding allocated to the post office network by the Government have been allocated for  (a) training,  (b) new equipment and  (c) marketing.

Patrick McFadden: The Government's investment of up to £1.7 billion for the post office network announced on 17 May 2007, ( Official Report 17 May 2007, column 753) covers network change, continued annual subsidy and network losses. Decisions on funding for training, new equipment and marketing are commercial matters for post office management.

Post Offices: Stafford

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many representations Post Office Ltd. received in response to its consultation on the moving of the Stafford Crown Post Office to WH Smith; and how many of the responses raised problems about access.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. Alan Cook, the Managing Director has been asked to reply direct to my hon. Friend.

Postal Services: Buses

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much subsidy was provided by local authorities for Postbus services in the last year for which figures are available.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 2 July 2007
	It is entirely a matter for individual authorities to decide any subsidy for Postbus services. I understand that the amount of subsidy provided by local authorities to support the Postbus service for the year ending 2006-07 was £442,000.

Power Stations: Peterhead

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 144W, on Power Stations: Peterhead, what additional sequestration projects might be approved in the next  (a) three months and  (b) six months.

Malcolm Wicks: None. Any projects which go ahead following the competition to build the UK's first commercial-scale demonstration of Carbon Capture and Storage, announced in Budget 2007, will have to satisfy the relevant regulatory, planning and environmental requirements. In addition, the Energy White Paper committed Government to consult on what their power station consents policy should be with regard to carbon-capture readiness by the end of the year.

Productivity

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he plans to take to improve UK productivity over the next 12 months.

Patrick McFadden: Over the past decade the Government have placed the objective of improving the UK's productivity performance at the heart of economic strategy and the policy agenda, which has successfully narrowed the productivity gap with our major industrial competitors.
	Going forward, a wide programme of reforms has been designed under the Government's framework of five drivers of productivity in order to make further progress. My Department contributes to policies under all five drivers of productivity, but has particular responsibility for taking forward reforms under the enterprise and competition drivers. For example, under the enterprise driver, ongoing work on the Better Regulation Agenda and the Simplification programme, which my Department is leading, will help to create a better framework within which business can operate. Implementing the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 which received Royal Assent last year will also contribute to reducing the administrative burdens on business, and at the same time, increase transparency and improve confidence of investors in the UK economy.
	We will work closely with other Departments to take forward the productivity agenda.

Safety: Furniture

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what measures the Government are taking to stop sofas and chairs which do not meet the fire safety regulations from being imported into the UK.

Stephen Timms: Liaison between local authority Trading Standards officers and HM Revenue and Customs on furniture imports has resulted in furniture being detained and convictions obtained for non-compliance with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988. HM Customs issued an Intelligence Trend Alert in December 2006 to its detection enforcement staff to raise their awareness of the potential risks posed to the public by sofas consigned from Poland. Also, officials from my Department have twice visited Poland to increase awareness of the FFRs and the Polish embassy has written to Polish manufacturers to do the same.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Babies: Children in Care

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what representations he has received on the number of newborn babies taken into care in North Tyneside in the last three months; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The Department has received no representations regarding the number of newborn babies taken into care in North Tyneside in the last three months.

Children: Protection

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many children in Key Stages 3 and 4 were classified as  (a) at risk and  (b) in need in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many young people in post-compulsory education aged 16 to 18 years were classified as  (a) at risk and  (b) in need in each of the last five years;
	(3)  how many children of primary school age were classified as  (a) at risk and  (b) in need in each of the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 4 July 2007
	The available data are shown in the tables.
	Table 1 provides information about the number of children in need who received a service during the children in need census weeks in February 2003 and February 2005 in England.
	Table 2 provides information on the number of children and young people on the child protection register in England in the last five years by age.
	The majority of children in need do not enter the child protection system so the figures shown in Table 2 represent a subset of those children in Table 1.
	
		
			  Table 1: Children in need who received a service during the census week in February 2003 and February 2005( 1, 2)  —England 
			Age during the February census week 
			   Number  Under 1  1-4  5-9  10-15  16 and over 
			 2005 234,700 14,400 44,200 52,300 83,100 40,700 
			 2003(3) 226,700 12,900 47,400 50,500 78,400 37,500 
			 (1 )Children upon whom the local authorities expended resources, either in terms of costed staff or centre time, or in terms of payments for placements or other services received by the child, including one-off payments. (2) Children are looked after by social services or supported in families and independently. (3) Includes estimates for four local authorities who did not return data. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Children on the child protection register at 31 March each year, by age—England 
			Age as at 31 March 
			   Number( 1)  under 1  1-4  5-9  10-15  16 and over 
			 2006 26,400 3,000 7,600 7,600 7,300 490 
			 2005 25,900 3,000 7,400 7,400 7,300 490 
			 2004 26,300 2,900 7,300 7,600 7,600 490 
			 2003 26,600 2,800 7,600 7,700 7,600 510 
			 2002 25,700 2,600 7,500 7,600 7,200 520 
			 (1 )Includes unborn children. 
		
	
	The latest figures on children and young people on the child protection register were published in a Statistical First Release (SFR) 45/2006 "Referrals, assessments and children and young people on child protection registers, England—year ending 31 March 2006" on 16 November 2006. A copy of this release is available on my Department's website:
	www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/
	Figures on children in need for 2003 and 2005 were published in Statistical Volumes in February 2004 and March 2006, respectively; and are also available on the Department's website.

Departments: Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many staff in his Department have taken  (a) five or more,  (b) four,  (c) three and  (d) two periods of sick leave of less than five days in the last 12 months.

Kevin Brennan: The information for the period April 2006 to March 2007, for the former Department for Education and Skills is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Periods of sick leave less than 5 days  Number of staff 
			 5 or more 141 
			 4 132 
			 3 231 
			 2 439 
		
	
	The Department has agreed year on year sickness absence targets with Cabinet Office. Our ultimate goal is to reduce sickness absence levels to seven days per full-time equivalent member of staff by 2010.

Physical Education

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families who is responsible for workforce development on physical education and sport; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 3 July 2007
	The Training and Development Agency for Schools has a remit to support the continuing professional development of teachers. Funding for this area is devolved to schools, which are best placed to decide what activities meet the needs of the school and the individual teachers working there. Additional support is available through the PE and School Sport Professional Development Programme which allows schools to draw, free of charge, from a menu of resources to help teachers raise the quality of the PE and school sport they provide.

Primary Education

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children who moved from primary school to secondary school attained an average of level 4 or below at key stage 2 in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: holding answer 28 June 2007
	The information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Key stage 2 test levels of attainment by subject, 1995 to 20061 
			   Percentage of pupils at each level   Percentage at level: 
			   A  T/D  B  N  W( 1)  1( 2)  2  3  4  5  6( 2)  Total  4  or above  5  or above 
			  English 
			 1995 4 0 — 0 0 1 7 39 41 7 0 100 49 7 
			 1996 3 0 — 2 0 1 6 30 45 12 0 100 57 12 
			 1997 3 0 4 2 — — 1 26 48 16 0 100 63 16 
			 1998 2 0 4 2 — — 1 26 48 17 0 100 65 17 
			 1999 2 0 3 2 — — 1 20 48 22 0 100 71 22 
			 2000 2 0 3 2 — — 1 17 46 29 0 100 75 29 
			 2001 1 1 3 2 — — 1 17 46 29 0 100 75 29 
			 2002 1 1 3 2 — — 1 17 46 29 0 100 75 29 
			 2003 1 1 3 2 — — 1 16 48 27 — 100 75 27 
			 2004 1 0 4 2 — — 1 14 50 27 — 100 78 27 
			 2005 1 0 4 2 — — 1 14 52 27 — 100 79 27 
			 2006 1 0 4 1 — — 1 14 47 32 — 100 79 32 
			
			  Mathematics 
			 1995 4 0 — 5 0 1 7 37 32 12 0 100 45 13 
			 1996 3 0 — 2 0 1 5 34 40 14 0 100 54 14 
			 1997 3 0 3 2 — — 2 28 44 18 0 100 62 18 
			 1998 2 0 3 3 — — 1 31 42 17 0 100 59 17 
			 1999 2 0 3 2 — — 1 23 45 24 0 100 69 24 
			 2000 2 0 3 2 — — 1 21 47 24 0 100 72 25 
			 2001 1 0 2 2 — — 1 22 45 25 0 100 71 25 
			 2002 1 1 2 2 — — 1 20 46 27 0 100 73 28 
			 2003 1 1 3 2 — — 1 19 44 29 — 100 73 29 
			 2004 1 0 3 2 — — 1 19 43 31 — 100 74 31 
			 2005 1 0 3 2 — — 1 18 44 31 — 100 75 31 
			 2006 1 0 3 2   1 17 43 33 — 100 76 33 
			
			  Science 
			 1995 5 0 — 2 0 0 4 19 48 22 0 100 70 22 
			 1996 4 0 — 1 0 0 4 28 48 14 0 100 62 14 
			 1997 3 0 2 1 — — 1 23 50 18 0 100 69 19 
			 1998 3 0 2 1 — — 1 23 53 16 0 100 69 16 
			 1999 2 0 2 1 — — 0 16 51 27 0 100 78 27 
			 2000 2 0 2 1 — — 0 11 50 34 0 100 85 34 
			 2001 2 0 1 0 — — 0 9 53 34 0 100 87 34 
			 2002 1 1 1 0 — — 0 9 49 38 0 100 86 38 
			 2003 1 0 2 0 — — 0 10 46 41 — 100 87 41 
			 2004 1 0 2 1 — — 0 10 43 43 — 100 86 43 
			 2005 1 0 2 1 — — 0 10 40 47 — 100 86 47 
			 2006 1 0 2 1 — — 0 10 41 46 — 100 87 46 
			 (1) Figures for 2006 are based on revised data. Figures for all other years are based on final data (2) Levels W and 1 were valid in 1995 and 1996 only. Level 6 was valid from 1995 to 2002 only. 'A' represents pupils who were absent. 'T' represents pupils working at the level of the assessment but unable to access the test. 'D' represents pupils disapplied from teacher assessment. 'B' represents pupils who were working below the level of the test. 'N' represents pupils who took the tests but failed to register a level. 'W' represents pupils who are "working towards" level 1 but have not yet achieved the standards needed for level 1.

Primary Education: Teaching Methods

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1158W, on primary education: teaching methods, 
	(1)  how much has been allocated to provide one-to-one tuition for 300,000 pupils in  (a) English and  (b) mathematics over the comprehensive spending review period;
	(2)  what the Department's planned trajectory is for the provision of one-to-one tuition in  (a) English and  (b) mathematics to 300,000 pupils by 2010-11.

Jim Knight: In the CSR it was announced that, by 2010-11, 300,000 pupils across both primary and secondary will be receiving one-to-one tuition in English and a further 300,000 pupils in maths.
	The Department will make further announcements on the allocation of its CSR settlement, and on the planned trajectory for the provision of one-to-one tuition, in due course.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much has been spent per pupil in Stockton-on-Tees in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The revenue funding figures per pupil in Stockton-on-Tees in each year since 1997 are provided in the following table:
	
		
			   £ 
			  Year  Funding per pupil 
			 1997-98 2,360 
			 1998-99 2,580 
			 1999-2000 2,680 
			 2000-01 2,910 
			 2001-02 3,260 
			 2002-03 3,550 
			 2003-04 3,820 
			 2004-05 4,080 
			 2005-06 4,430 
			  Notes: 1. The combined LA and school based expenditure includes all expenditure on the education of children in LA maintained establishments and pupils educated by the LA other than in maintained establishments. This includes both school based expenditure and all elements of central LA expenditure except youth and community and capital expenditure from revenue (CERA). A sector breakdown for combined LA and school based expenditure is not available from 2002-03 and consequently this table shows the total LA recurrent expenditure (except youth and community) per pupil by LA since 1995-96. 2. 1999-2000 saw a change in data source when the data collection moved from the RO1 form collected by the ODPM to the Section 52 Outturn forms collected by the DfES. 2002-03 saw a further break in the time series following the introduction of Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) and the associated restructuring of the Outturn tables. The change in sources is shown by the line. 3. Pupil figures include all pre-primary pupils, including those under 5s funded by the LA and being educated in private settings, pupils educated in maintained mainstream schools and other LA maintained pupils. The pupil data for pupils attending maintained mainstream schools and other LA maintained pupils. The pupil data for pupils attending maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools are taken from the DfES Annual Schools Census. Private voluntary and independent (PVI) under 5 pupil numbers are taken from the Early Years census but are only included for 1999-2000 onwards. For 1998-99 onwards other LA maintained pupils are included in the pupil count. This includes all pupils attending schools not maintained by the authority for whom the authority is paying full tuition fees, or educated otherwise than in schools and pupil referral units under arrangements made by the authority drawn from Form 8b submitted to the DfES. Also included as other LA maintained pupils are all pupils attending pupil referral units who are not registered at a maintained school drawn from the DfES Annual School Census. All pupil numbers are adjusted to be on a financial year basis. 4. Figures are rounded to the nearest £10 and are subject to change by the LA.

Pupils: Qualifications

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  to how many GCSEs  (a) a CACHE Foundation Award in Caring for Children and  (b) a CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Child Care and Education are considered to be equivalent for the purposes of GCSE performance tables;
	(2)  to how many qualifications included in the secondary school (GCSE and equivalent) performance tables are considered to be equivalent to  (a) three,  (b) four and  (c) five or more GCSEs.

Jim Knight: Information on the equivalence of all qualifications used in the achievement and attainment tables is published by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in the National Database of Accredited Qualifications at:
	http://www.ndaq.org.uk/

Runaway Children

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the outcome was of the review of refuge for runaway children; and when he will publish the report of the review.

Kevin Brennan: holding answer 3 July 2007
	This review was carried out by Barnardo's. Their report on the six community-based refuge pilots, and a separate "Lessons Learned" summary, will be published shortly. Officials are working closely with Barnardo's to finalise the report, including updating the text to reflect the Department's new name. Copies of the final versions will be placed in the House Library.

Schools: Sport

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the allocated budget is for school sport at non-specialist sports colleges.

Jim Knight: holding answer 3 July 2007
	Every school in England receives funding to deliver the Physical Education National Curriculum as part of their core funding through the Dedicated Schools Grant—£28.3 billion in total in 2007-08. In addition, investment in the National School Sport Strategy has been £978.5 million in the five years to 2008, covering every maintained school in England. It is for schools and School Sport Partnerships to decide how they allocate their funding.

Teachers: Stockton-on-Tees

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) teachers and  (b) teaching assistants were employed in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in Stockton-on-Tees in (A) 1997 and (B) at the latest date for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The following table provides the full-time equivalent number of teachers and teaching assistants employed in Stockton-on-Tees local authority maintained nursery/primary and secondary schools in January 1997 and 2006, the latest year for which figures are available.
	Local authority level information for 2007 is due to be published in September on the Department's website.
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent number of regular teachers and teaching assistants in service in nursery/primary and secondary schools in Stockton-on-Tees local authority, January 1997 and 2006 
			   Teachers( 1)  Teaching assistants 
			   Nursery/primary  Secondary  Nursery/primary  Secondary 
			 1997 810 750 160 10 
			 2006 820 840 240 100 
			 (1) Excludes occasional teachers.  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: Annual survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies 618 g (teacher numbers), School Census (teaching assistants).

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Allotments: Durham

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will list all  (a) consents and  (b) refusals of consent since 1 May 1990 under the Allotments Act 1925 for the disposal of allotment land or its use for other purposes, involving allotment sites in the district of Derwentside.

Iain Wright: holding answer 3 July 2007
	Derwentside district council has not submitted any applications to the Secretary of State under the Allotments Act 1925 for the disposal of allotment land in their area since 1 May 1990.

Council Tax: Students

Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the liability for council tax is of a full-time student sharing one dwelling with three others.

John Healey: Properties occupied wholly by students, who meet the criteria set out in the Council Tax (Discount Disregards) Order 1992, are exempt from council tax under Class N of the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings Order) 1992.
	Where a property is shared by students and non-students then the students are disregarded under the provisions of the Council Tax (Discount Disregards) Order 1992 for the purpose of calculating whether a single person discount should apply. By virtue of section 6(4) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended by section 74 of the Local Government Act 2003, the students are not jointly and severally liable for any council tax bill, but it is a matter for the occupiers to determine how any council tax costs should be shared.
	Liability for any council tax due on a property occupied in part by students will fall to the landlord, rather than occupants who are not students, if the property is deemed to be a house in multiple occupation within the meaning of Class C of the Council Tax (Liability for Owners) Regulations 1992.

Local Government: Somerset

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations of  (a) support and  (b) opposition have been received for the unitary bid for Somerset local government from (i) hon. Members, (ii) district councils in Somerset, (iii) parish councils, (iv) the public through polls or opinion surveys, (v) businesses and (vi) other organisations in Somerset; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: Our stakeholder consultation ended on 22 June and we are now analysing the responses received. All representations will be taken into account before decisions are made on which proposals should proceed towards implementation. The Government will publish a summary of consultation responses and copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

Voluntary Organisations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to support Local Sector Independence Day on 4 July.

John Healey: holding answer 3 July 2007
	The Department has updated information about the third sector on our website, with a link to the Commission for the Compact website and information about Local Sector Independence Day.
	We have worked with Compact Voice in preparing a third sector strategy discussion document, on which we are inviting comment by 20 September 2007, which recognises the importance of effective local relationships with an independent voluntary and community sector. As part of this approach Compact Voice are running a workshop for departmental officials on local Compacts.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Gambling: Licensing

Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how his Department plans to discharge its commitment to review the premises licence fees charged by local authorities under the Gambling Act 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: We are currently collating the information from licensing authorities on the fees they have set under the Gambling Act 2005 and associated statutory instruments. We intend to publish this information in due course.
	This will help the Department reach a view on whether the maxima have been set at the right level and whether they need to be adjusted, up or down, before the next financial year.

Gambling: Licensing

Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his Department's estimate is of the average premises licence fee charged by local authorities under the Gambling Act 2005; and what the maximum fee level is.

Gerry Sutcliffe: We are currently collating the information from licensing authorities on the fees they have set under the Gambling Act 2005 and associated statutory instruments. We intend to publish this information in due course.
	Maximum fees levels were set in the Gambling (Premises Licence Fees) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received on recent conflict in the Myanishen district of Kandahar province; whether the Taliban is in control of this district; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Myanishen district centre is under Afghan Government control after a short period of Taliban occupation.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many helicopters are dedicated for medical lift in Afghanistan.

Des Browne: holding answer 25 June 2007
	The UK does not fit helicopters specifically for the medical role but rather has dedicated and fully equipped specialist medical teams that can use any helicopter. There is always a helicopter available to deploy these teams in an emergency. In addition UK forces have access to the medical evacuation capabilities of ISAF and coalition partners in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the average time for medical evacuations in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan.

Des Browne: holding answer 25 June 2007
	The time taken to give treatment to wounded soldiers is more relevant than evacuation time as some life saving treatment can be delivered before an evacuation takes place. The Department is undertaking an audit on the time taken to deliver treatment in accordance with UK and NATO guidelines which are as follows:
	Battlefield advanced trauma life support within one hour of injury.
	Damage control surgery should be started within two hours of injury.
	Primary surgery should be started within four hours of injury.
	I will write to the hon. Member once the result of this audit is available and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the capacity of medical facilities and supplies in Afghanistan to respond to an event with significant numbers of casualties.

Des Browne: holding answer 25 June 2007
	The medical planning undertaken by UK forces has put in place appropriate procedures and sufficient resources in Afghanistan to handle incidents producing significant numbers of casualties.

Armed Forces: Training

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Defence Training Rationalisation Programme will support up-skilling throughout  (a) Wales and  (b) the rest of the UK beyond the Armed Forces; and what discussions his Department has had on supporting up-skilling.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 3 July 2007
	The Ministry of Defence is actively participating in a cross-departmental committee to assess how the Defence Training Review Programme can link with the Government's broader skills agenda. As much of what the armed forces do on a daily basis is vocational, we aim to ensure that training is accredited to nationally recognised vocational qualifications. On 14 June the armed forces signed a Skills Pledge confirming its commitment to support its employees to gain the skills and qualifications that will support their future employability, not only in Wales, but across the UK.

Armed Forces: Training

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will require the Defence Training Review preferred bidder to hold discussions with Persimmon Homes and Barratts on planning gains for the Defence Military Academy at MOD, St. Athan from the development of Llandow Newydd.

Bob Ainsworth: To date no decision on the procurement option for service families accommodation has been made. The options to be considered will include a solution from the preferred bidder alongside in-house options and any opportunities in the local market.

Armed Forces: Training

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where he expects the new accommodation for trainees and military and civilian staff at the military training academy MOD St. Athan to be located.

Derek Twigg: Work to agree specific site plans of the proposed MOD St. Athan site is ongoing. All single living accommodation will be located within the MOD St. Athan boundary; however the location of service families accommodation is still to be determined.

Army Board: Expenditure

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenses incurred by partners of members of the Army Board may be claimed for from his Department; and how much was spent on those expenses in 2006, broken down by type.

Derek Twigg: Spouses may, exceptionally, accompany Service personnel and civil servants to official functions or events in the UK or overseas, where there is a clear public interest in doing so.
	In 2006, a total of £12,769.83 was paid by the Department for air travel relating to attendance at official representational events overseas by spouses of the non-ministerial members of the Army Board. No other expenses were incurred.

BAE: Contracts

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from the US Administration on the subject of contracts obtained by BAE Systems; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: holding answer 3 July 2007
	None.

Departments: BAE Systems

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials from his Department applied to join BAE under the business appointments procedure in each of the last 10 years.

Des Browne: The number of staff (both civilian and military) from the Department who have submitted applications under the business appointments process to join BAE over the past 10 years is as follows:
	
		
			   Number of business applications where BAE quoted 
			 1997 14 
			 1998 14 
			 1999 7 
			 2000 13 
			 2001 17 
			 2002 21 
			 2003 7 
			 2004 7 
			 2005 9 
			 2006 21 
			 2007 (to June) 17 
			 Total 147 
		
	
	This information has been compiled from manual historic records of business appointment applications where 'BAE' has been quoted in the record and a date given. It is therefore possible that some cases may not be included in these figures.

Departments: Pay

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many non-pensionable bonuses were awarded to members of staff in his Department in the last three years; and at what total cost.

Derek Twigg: The number and value of non-pensionable bonuses awarded to members of the senior civil service (SCS), to fixed term appointees and to civil servants below the level of SCS covered by the MOD Main pay deal (excluding Trading Funds and Agencies) over the past three years, are listed in the following Tables 1 to 4. The Ministry of Defence also awards special bonuses to individuals and teams for exceptional performance in a specific task or for the achievement of professional qualifications which benefit MOD and the individual; these are shown in Table 4.
	
		
			  Table 1 :  Bonuses paid to senior civil servants 
			  £ 
			   Number of bonuses  Value of bonuses 
			 2004-05 136 711,737 
			 2005-06 184 918,000 
			 2006-07 181 1,178,500 
		
	
	
		
			  Ta ble 2:  Bonuses paid to  senior fixed term appointments 
			  £ 
			   Number of bonuses  Value of bonuses 
			 2004-05 14 112,329 
			 2005-06 10 65,586 
			 2006-07 10 73,191 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: End of year bonuses paid to staff below the level of the SCS (excluding MOD Trading Fund Agencies) 
			  £ 
			   Number of bonuses  Value of bonuses 
			 2004-05 36,043 29,312,275 
			 2005-06 38,766 37,962,800 
			 2006-07 46,463 36,197,006 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 4:  Special bonuses (excluding MOD Trading Fund Agencies) 
			  £ 
			   Number of bonuses  Value of bonuses 
			 2004-05 10,074 3,962,482 
			 2005-06 10,131 4,364,400 
			 2006-07 9,542 3,640,506

Departments: Performance Appraisal

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department did not achieve an acceptable mark in their annual report in 2006-07.

Derek Twigg: There were no members of the senior civil service who did not perform satisfactorily in the 2006-07 reporting year. Staff below the senior civil service who are performing less than satisfactorily are separately identified. This process operates from the end of the reporting period for the pay band/skill zone (February to April) through to late July 2007. As the process is not yet complete it is too early to provide the information. I will write to the hon. Member when the data are available and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Departments: Public Expenditure

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list his Department's top level budget holders and their related management groupings in each financial year since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: The information requested is available in the 'MOD Organisation and Resource Account Code Hierarchies' document, which is produced annually. Copies are available in the Library of the House covering the period from 2000-01, when the Chart of Accounts was first adopted for financial management purposes in the Ministry of Defence.

Depleted Uranium: Irish Sea

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many depleted uranium shells were fired into the Irish Sea and the waters feeding into the Irish Sea in each of the last 30 years.

Derek Twigg: No depleted uranium (DU) shells have been fired into the Irish Sea. DU projectiles have been fired from Kirkcudbright into the Solway Firth since 1982 and the numbers fired to date are shown in the following table.
	In addition, during 1988 and 1990, 100 and 215 rounds of depleted uranium ammunition respectively were fired into Luce Bay, West Freugh, as part of experimental firings to examine the ricochet effects of ammunitions from the Phalanx weapons system following first water impact.
	The table has been compiled from individual entries in a daily log maintained at Kirkcudbright. While preparing this table, differences were noted between the annual totals obtained on this occasion and the information published in  Hansard on 12 March 2001,  Official Report, column 411W, in answer to a similar question. The reason for the discrepancies is because some preparatory rounds, which did not contain DU, were included in the earlier data.
	
		
			   Numbers fired (including malfunctions) 
			 1982 9 
			 1983 56 
			 1984 194 
			 1985 152 
			 1986 118 
			 1987 151 
			 1988 272 
			 1989 434 
			 1990 783 
			 1991 666 
			 1992 781 
			 1993 682 
			 1994 458 
			 1995 286 
			 1996 105 
			 1997 734 
			 1998 134 
			 1999 136 
			 2000 270 
			 2001 126 
			 2002 0 
			 2003 192 
			 2004 0 
			 2005 0 
			 2006 0 
			 2007 0 
			 Total 6,739

Depleted Uranium: Peacekeeping Operations

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much depleted uranium ammunition has been used by British forces in  (a) Operation Telic and  (b) Operation Herrick since 2003.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on the 28 June 2007,  Official Report, column 831W.

Ex-servicemen: Military Decorations

Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Government plans to extend the eligibility for the HM forces Veterans' Badge to the Royal Observer Corps.

Derek Twigg: The armed forces Veterans Badge was introduced for all those who had served in HM armed forces. We are currently considering the position of the Royal Observer Corps in this respect and I will write to my hon. Friend when this work has been completed and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Iraq: Casualties

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK service personnel have been  (a) injured and  (b) killed in Iraq since March 2003.

Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence publishes data on battle and non-battle fatalities and casualties that have resulted from our operations in Iraq since March 2003: details can be found on the Ministry of Defence website:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/FactSheets/OperationsFactsheets/OperationsInIraqBritishCasualties.htm
	This information is updated on a two weekly basis in arrears. Since January 2006, improvements in reporting mean that more detailed information can be made available. Work continues to verify and validate data for aeromedical evacuations and field hospital admissions in Iraq prior to January 2006. Once this data is compiled it will be added to the website.
	As at 2 July 2007, a total of 156 British armed forces personnel or MOD civilians have died serving on Operation Telic since March 2003. Of these, 121 are classed as Killed in Action or Died of Wounds. 35 are known to have died either as a result of illness, non-combat injuries or accidents, or have not yet officially been assigned a cause of death pending the outcome of an investigation.
	Over the same period, centrally available records show that 60 UK military personnel were categorised as Very Seriously Injured from all causes and 117 were categorised as Seriously Injured from all causes (in both cases excluding disease).

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the rate by which  (a) vehicles,  (b) helicopters and  (c) fixed-wing aircraft in service in Iraq and Afghanistan are not lasting for their expected life-span.

Bob Ainsworth: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 17 May 2007 on an issue related to the Grievance Appeal Panel.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 29 June 2007
	I wrote to the hon. Member on 5 July 2007. I apologise for the delay in responding.

Military Bases: Wales

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to secure the future operation and maintenance of the runway at MOD St. Athan.

Derek Twigg: The Welsh Assembly Government are responsible for the maintenance of the runway at MOD St. Athan. MOD continues to operate and use the runway as part of the Airfield Management Agreement between the two parties. These arrangements are currently under review.

Military Bases: Wales

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans the preferred bidder for the Defence Training Academy, MOD St. Athan has to re-open St. Athan Halt or construct a new railway station.

Derek Twigg: A decision on the provision of a new or refurbished railway station is the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government. An application for planning permission to develop Defence Training Review Facilities at St. Athan is being prepared by the preferred bidder in conjunction with the Welsh Assembly Government and the Vale of Glamorgan Council. A traffic impact assessment study and green travel plan will also be prepared. The proximity of the site to the revitalised Cardiff-Bridgend railway line is a considerable asset in the consideration of sustainable development at St. Athan.

Military Bases: Wales

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will require the Defence Training Review preferred bidder to make an assessment of the impact of the new build at the Defence Training Academy, MOD St. Athan on the surface water and drainage in the immediate locale, with particular reference to the village of Boverton.

Derek Twigg: An Environmental Impact Assessment will be carried out to support the preferred bidder's planning application to develop the MOD St. Athan site. This assessment will include, among others, the impact of development on surface water and drainage to the surrounding area.

NATO: Military Bases

David Curry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to move NATO joint headquarters from Rheindahlen to RAF Innsworth; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The Innsworth site is one of several options being assessed as a possible UK base for the Headquarters of the Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps, currently based at Rheindahlen, Germany. A final decision will not be made before this autumn, and a move would not take place until 2009 at the earliest.

Service Personnel: Psychiatric Care

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what facilities are available for psychiatric treatment of troops on return to Stockport after service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Derek Twigg: Our mental health services are configured to provide community-based mental health care in line with national best practice, providing assessment and treatment in line with the guidelines and standards set by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and the National Service Frameworks. We do this primarily through our 15 military Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMH) (plus satellite centres overseas), which provide out-patient mental healthcare. The geographical location of care is dependent on many factors, including the clinical need and where the service man or women is currently serving. The geographically closest DCMH to Stockport is situated at Donnington near Telford.
	In-patient care, when necessary, is provided in psychiatric units belonging to the Priory Group, through a central contract with MOD. The geographically closest Priory Group Facility used by the MOD is the Priory hospital, Altrincham.
	Any mobilised servicemen or women injured on operational deployment is entitled to, and will receive the same level of medical treatment and support, irrespective of whether they are members of the regular or reserve forces.
	Once demobilised it is a long established tradition that reserve forces' medical welfare becomes the responsibility of their own local NHS primary care trust and the majority of veterans' physical and mental health needs are met by these provisions. However, the MOD recognises that it has an expertise to offer in certain specific circumstances, and in November 2006 launched the Reserves Mental Health programme.
	The RMHP is open to any current or former member of the UK Volunteer and Regular Reserves who has been demobilised since 1 January 2003 following an overseas operational deployment as a reservist, and who believes that the deployment may have adversely affected their mental health. Under the RMHP, we liaise with the individual's GP and offer a mental health assessment at the Reserves Training and Mobilisation Centre in Chilwell, Nottinghamshire. If diagnosed to have an operational-related mental health condition, we then offer out-patient treatment at one of the DCMHs (e.g. Donnington). If more acute cases present, the Defence Medical Services will assist in obtaining access to NHS in-patient treatment.

Sudan: Armed Conflict

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with  (a) NATO,  (b) European Union and  (c) UN colleagues on the ending of offensive Sudanese flights over Darfur.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 4 July 2007
	The Government are giving consideration to a number of measures to the monitoring of air activity over Darfur. We need to assess the logistical challenges of implementing any measures and their impact on the humanitarian effort. We are working with partners in the UN Security Council to press both the African Union and the UN Panel of Experts to notify the UN Sanctions Committee of any instances of offensive military flights in Darfur. The Defence Ministers have not held formal discussions with NATO, EU or UN colleagues on this issue.

Territorial Army: Recruitment

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the level of recruiting has been to the Territorial Army for other ranks for the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how many of these recruits passed their phase 1 and 2.

Bob Ainsworth: In 2006-07, there were 6,400 enlistments to the Territorial Army ranks. Ex-regular soldiers and TA who rejoin are exempt from phase 1 training due to their previous experience, and some specialists e.g. medics undertake separate training in support of their civilian professional qualifications. Moreover, some personnel take more than 12 months to complete their training. There is, therefore, no direct correlation between enlistments and phase 1/phase 2 passes in any given period.
	In 2006-07, 1,279 non-infantry TA personnel completed phase 1 training and 567 infantry personnel completed their combined phase 1/phase 2 training. Output figures for non-infantry phase 2 training are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Olympic Games: Greater London

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the Cabinet Office's responsibilities with regard to the 2012 Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the written statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on 28 June 2007,  Official Report , column 39WS.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agricultural Shows: Minsterley

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to visit the Minsterley Show in 2007.

Jonathan R Shaw: Decisions have not yet been taken on which shows Ministers will attend.

Energy: Conservation

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the contribution of energy supply companies to energy efficiency.

Phil Woolas: Energy suppliers play a key role in delivering energy efficiency to household consumers through the Government's Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) scheme, which requires them to meet targets for promoting improvements in household energy efficiency. Of the 4.6 million tonnes of carbon (MtC) savings identified in the 2006 Climate Change Programme for the household sector, suppliers will be responsible for 1.9 MtC.
	The first phase of the EEC ran from 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2005, delivering 0.3 MtC annually by 2010. The second phase of the EEC runs from 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2008 and is expected to save 0.5 MtC annually by 2010. We are currently consulting on the third phase, now known as the Carbon Emissions Reductions Target (CERT), which is expected to deliver a further 1.1 MtC annually by 2010.
	The 2007 Energy White Paper reaffirms the Government's commitment to maintain some form of obligation on household energy suppliers until at least 2020, with an ambition level at least equal to that under the forthcoming CERT. This will save around 3-4 MtC over the decade from 2011.

Pesticides: Health Hazards

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the likelihood of the acute reference dose for pesticides being exceeded by an individual consumer.

Phil Woolas: The Pesticide Residues Committee conducts annual programmes to monitor pesticide residues in food and publishes consumer risk assessments for residues which are found to exceed the acute reference dose. They are available at http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/prc_home.asp

Pesticides: Health Hazards

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he has taken to advise consumers of the importance of washing or peeling fruit to reduce herbicide and pesticide ingestion; what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on the health risks of pesticide ingestion; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Advisory Committee on Pesticides advises Ministers on matters relating to pesticides. The Committee has concluded that washing or peeling fruit is not required as a protection against pesticide residues. When deciding whether pesticides should be approved for use in the UK, the Committee makes no assumption that fruit will be washed or peeled. Moreover, monitoring of fruit and vegetables (both UK-produced and imported) indicates that the pesticide residues which occur in these foods are highly unlikely to pose a risk to human health.

Pesticides: Residues

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the maximum residue level for commonly used pesticides was last reviewed.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 29 June 2007
	Maximum residue levels (MRLs) for pesticide active substances are set on a wide range of crops under a European Community programme. The most recent changes were implemented into national law by the Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels in Crops, Food and Feeding Stuffs) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2007. Separate but similar legislation was implemented in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Pesticides: Residues

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what account is taken of individual fruits having levels high enough to exceed the acute reference dose when determining the safe maximum residue levels for pesticides.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 29 June 2007
	The variability of residues in individual pieces of fruit differs between commodities and pesticides. It is taken into account when setting maximum residue levels (MRLs) for each pesticide active substance either by using data specific to that active substance in each commodity or, where no specific data are available, by using internationally agreed default values.
	MRLs may be amended in light of new or revised acute reference doses, to ensure that expected consumer intakes of residues remain within toxicologically acceptable levels.

Rural Development Programme

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will publish the advice and guidance given by his Department to regional development agencies on axes 1 and 3 of the Rural Development Programme.

Jonathan R Shaw: Regional plans for the Rural Development Programme for England 2007-13 have been developed by the regional development agencies (RDAs), Natural England and the Forestry Commission, in consultation with stakeholders and partners. In devising their plans, regions were asked to reflect the national priorities for the programme, on which we consulted early last year.
	The regional plans informed the content of the draft programme document which has been submitted to the EU Commission for approval. This document sets out priorities for action, details of which rural development regulation measures we plan to use, as well as how we plan to use them. It therefore sets out the broad framework of guidance within which RDAs will have devolved responsibility to deliver axes 1 and 3 in line with the regional plans. The draft programme document is available on our website.
	The programme document might, in due course, have to be supplemented by further guidance to aid consistent interpretation of the EU rules.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan: Detainees

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he plans to make to the United States on Guantanamo Bay.

Kim Howells: The Government have long held that the circumstances in which detainees are held indefinitely at Guantanamo Bay are unacceptable and that Guantanamo Bay should be closed. The US Government are fully aware of our position. We will continue to discuss detainee-related issues with the US Government and will raise humanitarian and human rights concerns about detentions at Guantanamo Bay where necessary.

Burma: Armed Forces

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the use that the Army and Air Force in Burma will make of military material and training recently provided by India;
	(2)  what plans he has to make representations to the government of India on its proposed training of Burma Army personnel in India.

Meg Munn: We have made no such detailed assessment, but we raise Burma with the Indian authorities as part of our regular dialogue with the Indians on regional security and they are aware of our concern. We ask the Indian authorities to use their influence with the Government of Burma to encourage them to respect human rights and to restore democratic rule. We are concerned that the Government of Burma continues to spend scarce resources on weaponry for its 400,000-strong army, while expenditure on health and education is at minimal levels.

Departments: Common Purpose

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department paid to Common Purpose in each of the last five years; for what purpose; and what the outcome of the expenditure was.

Jim Murphy: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office paid Common Purpose £3,750 in financial year 2003-04 to enable a senior official to participate in a Common Purpose Matrix Leadership programme.

Departments: Consultants

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on  (a) management consultants and  (b) other external consultants and advisers in each year since 2000; and which of these consultants undertook work for the Department with a total contractual value in excess of £10 million over this period.

Jim Murphy: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) annual expenditure on external consultants is published in the Department's annual reports, copies of which are in the Library of the House. The two most recent annual reports also contain details of expenditure on the top five consultancy suppliers. The FCO spent in excess of £10 million over the seven financial years from April 2000 to March 2007 with each of the following consultancy companies:
	Fujitsu Consulting
	Logica
	Parity Resources
	PA Consulting
	Hewlett Packard
	3M UK
	Cap Gemini Ernst and Young

Departments: European Union

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials in her Department are  (a) involved in assisting European Council negotiations,  (b) involved in assisting and advising the European Commission,  (c) seconded to the European Commission,  (d) involved in monitoring EU decisions, communications, regulations and directives,  (e) involved in enforcing compliance with EU decisions, communications, regulations and directives and  (f) involved in other work related to the European Council, Commission or Court of Justice.

Jim Murphy: There are approximately 95 officials working on EU matters in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) Europe Directorate in London. In addition, a number of officials, including from other Government Departments, work on EU matters in the United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the EU and elsewhere in the overseas network. Providing a detailed breakdown as requested by the hon. Member would incur disproportionate cost. The FCO also has one official seconded to the European Commission and one in the Council Secretariat.

Departments: Pay

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many non-pensionable bonuses were awarded to members of staff in his Department in the last three years; and at what total cost.

Jim Murphy: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) paid the following bonuses to staff in 2006 and 2005:
	
		
			  (Pay Round)  Number of recipients  Annual performance related bonus awards  Devolved bonus scheme  Total bonus payments 
			 2006 6,076 6,204,363 348,925 6,553,288 
			 2005 5,097 5,589,900 399,200 5,989,100 
		
	
	The processes for determining annual pay and bonus awards for FCO staff follow a timetable which reaches a conclusion in late July. We will not therefore be in a position to supply figures for annual bonuses paid during the 2007 pay round until August. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as this information is available and will place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
	The FCO uses non-consolidated, non-pensionable, performance-related bonuses to encourage high performance. Since 2002, we have paid annual bonuses to staff in the delegated grades based on appraisal evidence of annual performance. The highest bonus for staff in these grades will be £1,850 in 2007. Managers may also nominate staff in the delegated grades to receive small awards, devolved bonuses, for particular exceptional achievements in year.
	Bonus arrangements for staff in the senior management structure (SMS) have followed a framework set for Whitehall Departments by the Cabinet Office since 2004. We use SMS bonuses to reward excellent performance during the year. They are based on a judgment by pay committees of how well an individual has performed relative to their peers. Those who have delivered the best results, and shown real leadership in doing so, receive the biggest bonuses. Those who have delivered least receive nothing. In accordance with the Cabinet Office guidelines, Departments may spend a sum equivalent to 7.6 per cent. of their SMS pay budget on non-consolidated bonuses for SMS staff in 2007.

Departments: Pensions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and what percentage of staff in his Department are making additional voluntary contributions to their pensions; and what steps he has taken in the last 12 months to encourage more people to make such contributions.

Jim Murphy: 563 members of staff (9 per cent.) in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office currently make additional voluntary pension contributions through deductions from their pay.
	Pension scheme members receive an annual benefit statement showing the pension entitlements they have accumulated to date together with a projection of pension on retirement if the member continues in service up to the scheme pension age. The benefit statement provides details of the Civil Service Pensions website where staff can obtain further information, including options for making additional voluntary contributions to boost their pension. We also provide information about these options to new recruits and to other staff who seek advice.

Departments: Performance Appraisal

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff in his Department did not achieve an acceptable mark in their annual report in 2006-07.

Jim Murphy: Under the Department's performance improvement procedures, unacceptable performance has to be addressed as soon as it occurs rather than waiting for the appraisal cycle to be completed. In the period 2006-07, 22 staff were subject to these procedures. Annual report markings, which only record cases of poor performance current at the end of the appraisal year, for the period 2006-07 are not yet available.

Departments: Public Transport

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the number of its staff using public transport to commute.

Jim Murphy: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has 2,620 staff based in our two Whitehall buildings and 1,200 staff at Hanslope Park, Buckinghamshire. The majority of our London staff commute by public transport, whereas the majority of those at Hanslope Park come by private car, because public transport is not available. The travel plan we are introducing for Hanslope Park encourages car sharing. About 200 staff cycle to the London buildings and 20 to Hanslope Park.

Departments: Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff in his Department have taken  (a) five or more,  (b) four,  (c) three and  (d) two periods of sick leave of less than five days in the last 12 months.

Jim Murphy: The numbers of Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff taking two, three, four and five or more periods of recorded sick absence of less than five days during the 12 months to 31 May 2007 are set out in the following table.
	
		
			   2 periods  3 periods  4 periods  5+ periods 
			 Number of staff 315 132 76 108 
		
	
	We have recently revised our sickness absence policy in order to tighten the procedures for handling short-term sickness absences. Subject to agreement from our trades unions, we plan to implement the new policy from September.

Ethiopia: Treason

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by the Government on the progress of the treason trials in Ethiopia; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: We continue to make representations to the Government of Ethiopia to ensure that the trial of opposition political leaders, civil society representatives and journalists is swift, transparent and fair, and that their individual human rights are respected.
	Our Ambassador in Addis Ababa has raised this with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on several occasions, most recently on 28 June.
	On 11 June, judges in the trial ruled that those individuals who chose not to defend themselves were all guilty of one or more charges brought against them by the prosecution. Sentencing is scheduled for 9 July. Cases of those who have chosen to defend themselves started on 18 June.
	We continue to monitor the ongoing trial and urge the government and all political parties in Ethiopia to commit themselves to resolving their differences through dialogue.

European Constitution Treaty

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Ministers took part in discussions of the Amending Treaty agreed at the June European Council in the two months prior to the agreement.

Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friends the former Prime Minister (Mr. Tony Blair), the former Foreign Secretary my right hon. Friend the Member for Derby, South (Margaret Beckett) and the former Minister for Europe now the Secretary to the Treasury, my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashfield (Mr. Hoon) had discussions with EU partners on the subject of EU institutional reform in the period leading up to the June European Council.
	Within Government, the Joint Ministerial Committee (Europe) met on 5 June to discuss the June European Council.

Group of Eight: Africa

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Ministers in his Department held with African leaders during the recent G8 meeting in Germany.

Meg Munn: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers did not attend the G8 summit in Heiligendamm on 6-8 June. In an outreach session involving G8 members and African countries, my right hon. Friend the former Prime Minister (Mr Tony Blair) held discussions with African Heads of State from Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana and also the Chairman of the Commission of the African Union. The leaders discussed a number of issues with specific reference to Africa, including peace and security, aid for trade, debt relief, good governance, investment, support for the healthcare sector and the effects of climate change in Africa. A summary of their discussions can be found in Chapter II of the Chair's Summary at:
	http://www.g-8.de/Content/EN/Artikel/__g8-summit/2007-06-07-summit-documents.html.

Iraq: Weapons

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider further the merits of releasing into the public domain the draft of the September 2002 dossier on Iraq written by John Williams.

Kim Howells: This issue is the subject of an ongoing appeal to the Information Tribunal following a recent decision by the Information Commissioner. However, as I recently made clear in the House on 13 June 2007, Official Report, column 296WH, the Government believe it is vital to provide "thinking space" for officials and others involved in drafting policy documents. They should not feel constrained in presenting their ideas because they fear these will be made public. This principle is specifically recognised in the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

Jamaica: Entry Clearances

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects Ms Vanessa Ann Marie Brown, date of birth 17 May 1979, of Jamaica to receive student entry clearance arising from her successful appeal in February (Appeal No. OA/36531/2006); what the reasons are for the delay; and what procedure is used to inform posts abroad when an appeal has been upheld.

Kim Howells: To conform with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998, the details of any ongoing visa application are always treated as confidential to the applicant and his/her authorised representatives.
	A backlog of appeals cases at our High Commission in Kingston was identified in January; a programme was immediately put into place to reduce the backlog, with assistance from other visa posts. Significant progress has been made, however there may still be a delay between receipt of the appeal determination and the issue of the visa.
	When an appeal is allowed, the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) will forward the Tribunal's determination to the applicant, the applicant's representative and the Respondent (the Home Office). The AIT aims to do this within 12 working days of the hearing.

Palestinians: Politics and Government

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on governmental relations with Hamas if its policy towards Israel does not change; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We have repeatedly made clear that we are ready to engage with Hamas if they follow the Quartet (EU, US, UN and Russia) principles: renunciation of violence; recognition of Israel; and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap. Hamas has a role to play in the peace process. As I told the House on 3 July 2007,  Official Report, column 812
	"we have never denied that Hamas should play a part, but it must be a constructive part. I would very much like it to play that role, which I believe the Palestinian people elected it to play. However, we cannot treat Hamas in the same way as other players in the region if it supports suicide bombers and if it plays a game of violence, and does not take a peaceful approach to the problem. There is no question but that Hamas was the democratic expression of the majority of the Palestinian people in the elections-that is not disputed—we cannot deal with a Government with elected representatives who advocate terrorism as a way of achieving some kind of political settlement in such a sensitive area".

Poland

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit Poland.

Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's overseas engagements are kept under constant review. It is not our practice to announce such visits until they are firm. Because of the unpredictable nature of world events, final decisions on overseas visits are often not possible until very shortly before the day of travel.

Robert Tweyambe

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the  (a) health and  (b) ability to access medical treatment of the detained Uganda Forum for Democratic Change supporter Robert Tweyambe; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: We have not received any specific reports on the health of Mr Robert Tweyambe, or his ability to access medical treatment.
	However, we continue to raise our concerns about the detention of the Peoples' Redemption Army suspects with the Government of Uganda. Most recently our High Commissioner in Kampala raised this with President Museveni on 10 May.
	We understand that Mr Tweyambe is due to appear before Mbarara High Court on 9 July to hear the outcome of his bail application on murder charges. We will continue to make further representations to the Government of Uganda calling for court proceedings to be expedited in a fair and just manner.

Uganda: Oppression

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the deaths in Makindye military barracks of three Forum for Democratic Change members, Denis Nabilema, Moses Dramani and David Oboma; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: We are aware of reports in Uganda, including by the media, and the claims by the leader of the Forum for Democratic Change, Dr Kizza Besigye, that three of his party's supporters died in detention; and the comment by the Ugandan People's Defence Force spokesman confirming that David Oboma died recently at Mbuya Military hospital. However, we have not yet received information to confirm this. We will seek further clarification from the Government of Uganda and I shall write to the hon. Member once we have received further information. I will also place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

HEALTH

Accident and Emergency Departments: Bishop Auckland Hospital

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of the accident and emergency unit at Bishop Auckland General Hospital.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 2 July 2007
	It is a matter for the local national health service to ensure that there is appropriate provision of urgent and emergency care services to meet the needs of local people. In planning local provision of urgent and emergency care services, health communities are expected to observe the general principle that all urgent and emergency care should be delivered as close to home as is compatible with clinical safety. There is a requirement for trusts to involve and consult the public on the planning for provision of health services.
	Bishop Auckland has a consultant led accident and emergency department and there are currently no plans to change this provision.

Colorectal Cancer

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were diagnosed with cancer of the bowel in each year since 2001, broken down by acute trust; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: holding answer 4 July 2007
	The information requested by acute trust is not held centrally. Figures of the number of newly diagnosed cases of colorectal cancer for England, broken down by Government Office of the Region, are published in 'Cancer Registration Statistics Series MB1', which can be found at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=8843&Pos=&ColRank=l&Rank=224.
	Additionally, the number of colorectal cancer cases broken down by strategic health authority for the years 1993 to 2003 provided by the Office for National Statistics are available on the National Centre for Health Outcomes Development website at:
	www.nchod.nhs.uk/.

Health Services

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which  (a) patient and public interest groups and  (b) professional healthcare regulators have met (i) Ministers and (ii) officials from his Department to discuss the White Paper "Trust, Assurance and Safety"; and if he will publish written representations made.

Ben Bradshaw: There has been extensive consultation leading up to the publication of the White Paper 'Trust, Assurance and Safety'. The response to the consultation was published in February.
	Further involvement in the implementation of the White Paper will be through the working groups which we announced at the stakeholder conference for the professional regulation reform implementation on 5 June. The conference was attended by over 200 stakeholders and my noble Friend the Minister of State for Health (Lord Hunt) and officials from the Department were able to discuss aspects of the White Paper with most of them during the day. We will be publishing the terms of reference and membership of the working groups shortly.

Health Services: Finance

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department expects to allocate to the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence  (a) for communication purposes and  (b) to promote public engagement in their four country business plan, with particular reference to his Department's priority work themes arising from the White Paper Trust, Assurance and Safety.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department of Health and the Council of Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) have not made any final decisions on the allocation to CHRE, in relation to the additional work set out in the White Paper 'Trust, Assurance and Safety'. CHRE's Business Plan will be agreed soon.

Health Services: Private Sector

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budgetary allocation is for expenditure by the Government on healthcare from private sector providers in 2007-08.

Ben Bradshaw: National health service spend on private healthcare providers will be determined by the choices made by patients and those who commission services locally on their behalf.
	As financial plans for 2007-08 are still subject to final validation and sign-off, it is not yet possible to provide a robust estimate for this category of expenditure in 2007-08.

Patient Choice Schemes

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the rules governing the choose and book system allow for the names of individual clinicians within a particular service and their indicative waiting times to be passed on to GPs and their patients.

Ben Bradshaw: Yes.

United Health Group

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2007,  Official Report, column 2199W, on United Health Group, in which salary band Mr Channing Wheeler's salary falls; whether his employment contract allows for performance bonuses; and what period the contract covers.

Dawn Primarolo: The post of director general for the commercial directorate falls within Senior Civil Service (SCS) payband 3, and performance bonuses will be payable in line with the Department's SCS pay strategy. The contract is a fixed term for three years.

Written Questions

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 1 May to the Minister of State about Nexavar.

Ann Keen: holding answer 29 June 2007
	A reply was sent on 25 June 2007.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders imposed at magistrates' courts in each of the last three years were overturned on appeal.

Vernon Coaker: The data are not available yet but will be published shortly, once their quality has been assured.

Children: Abuse

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with those hosting social networking sites on adopting mechanisms to prevent child abuse;
	(2)  what discussions she has had with those hosting social networking sites on child protection issues.

Vernon Coaker: The Government are aware of the wider concerns that social networking websites have raised. Although they enable young people to share their interests with other young people, clearly there is a potential for misuse.
	Some of the major social networking services have been invited to join the Home Secretary's taskforce for child protection on the internet. In addition, a sub-group of the taskforce, which includes representatives from social network providers, law enforcement and children's charities, has been set up to look at the safety issues for children caused by the development and growth of social networking sites and develop good practice guidelines.

Children: Abuse

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the likely impact of serious crime prevention orders proposed in the Serious Crime Bill, if enacted, on the posting of child abuse images on social networking sites.

Vernon Coaker: We believe that serious crime prevention orders will make a significant impact in the fight against all types of serious crime. They will allow law enforcement to apply for orders which will put in place reasonable and proportionate conditions upon those who have been involved in serious crime, in order to prevent any future involvement.
	We have ensured that contained within the list of serious crimes set out in schedule 1 is, among other similar offences, the offence under section 50 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (arranging or facilitating child prostitution or pornography). This will mean that it will be open to the applicant authorities to seek an order to prevent such criminal activity where an order would be effective and appropriate. This will not, of course, alter in any way our commitment to investigate and prosecute those who have already been involved in this criminal activity. These orders will be a means of preventing future harm before it takes place.

Homicide: Religion

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were convicted of so-called honour killings in each of the last 10 years, broken down by nationality.

Vernon Coaker: This information is not held centrally.

Homicide: Religion

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) arrests and  (b) convictions for so-called honour killings there were in each of the last 10 years.

Vernon Coaker: This information is not held centrally.

Homicide: Religion

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what strategy her Department has in place to tackle so-called honour killings; and how long it has been in existence.

Vernon Coaker: The National Delivery Plan for Domestic Violence, which was issued in 2005, includes workstreams to tackle honour based violence, including homicide. In addition, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) national working group on honour based violence will shortly publish for consultation its proposals for a national action plan to respond to honour based violence.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Apprentices: Females

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what plans the Government have to increase the number of disadvantaged young women entering apprenticeships.

David Lammy: We want to expand the apprenticeships programme so that in 2013 any suitably qualified young person will be entitled to an apprenticeship place. We are therefore working with partners including the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), sector bodies and employers to address the needs of learners who are typically under-represented in apprenticeships, either generally or in particular occupational sectors and whether by gender, ethnicity or disability. We aim to attract apprentices from a wide range of backgrounds through targeted marketing activity, by creating more flexible apprenticeship opportunities and by improving careers advice and guidance, including by offering opportunities for non-stereotypical "tasters" from the age of 14.

Foundation Degrees: Public Sector

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of those qualifying with foundation degrees were employed by local authorities in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by local authority area;
	(2)  how many and what percentage of students who completed foundation degrees went on to employment in  (a) schools,  (b) hospitals,  (c) the police or armed forces and  (d) the public sector in the last five years for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: The available information on employment of graduates is taken from the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey which is carried out annually by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). The DLHE survey records the activity of the student six months after qualifying.
	The latest available figures are given in the table and show the full list of occupations for those students who obtained employment. The destinations data do not allow identification of qualifiers employed in individual local authorities. Figures for 2005-06 will be available in mid-July.
	
		
			  First destinations of foundation degree qualifiers at English Higher Education Institutions ,  academic years 2002/03 to 2004/05 
			   Number  Percentage 
			  Destination 6 months after qualifying  2002/03  2003/04  2004/05  2002/03  2003/04  2004/05 
			 Number of known destination 760 1,850 3,955 — — — 
			 Of which in employment(1) 420 1,165 2,465 55 63 62 
			  Broken down by Standard Industrial Classification:   
			 Agriculture and Forestry 5 25 25 1 1 1 
			 Fishing 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Mining and Quarrying 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Manufacturing 40 100 125 5 5 3 
			 Electricity, Gas and Water Supply 0 5 10 0 0 0 
			 Construction 5 10 20 1 1 1 
			 Wholesale and Retail Trade, Repair of Motor Vehicles and Goods 80 135 215 10 7 5 
			 Hotels and Restaurants 10 55 75 2 3 2 
			 Transport, Storage and Communication 20 40 55 2 2 1 
			 Financial Activities 5 25 20 1 1 1 
			 Property Development, Renting, Business and Research Activity 25 75 140 4 4 3 
			 Public Administration and Defence 20 50 375 3 3 9 
			  Of which:   
			 Police officers (all ranks) 0 0  0 0 2 
			 Armed forces (Officers, NCOs and other ranks) 0 0 15 0 0 0 
			 Education(2) 5 5 115 1 0 3 
			 Local Government(3) 5 5 20 0 0 0 
			 Others 15 35 155 2 2 4 
			 Education 130 400 940 17 22 24 
			 Health and social work 20 135 315 2 7 8 
			 Other community, social and personal service activities 55 110 145 7 6 4 
			 Private households with employed persons 0 5 10 0 0 0 
			 International Organisations and Bodies 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Not known/Not applicable 0 5 0 0 0 0 
			 Response rate (percentage) 80 74 81 ? ? ? 
			 (1 )includes those in employment and further study (2) includes education officers, education assistants and support workers, primary, nursery and secondary teachers, and those employed in special educational needs, adult and vocational education (3) includes area, divisional, clerical, associate professional and senior officials. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.  Source:  Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (Higher Education Statistics Agency)

Higher Education: Admissions

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many and what percentage of pupils from  (a) low-participation neighbourhoods and  (b) socioeconomic classes 4-7 (i) applied and (ii) were accepted to (A) Oxbridge, (B) Russell Group and (C) other universities for (1) physics, (2) chemistry, (3) biochemistry, (4) psychology, (5) sports science, (6) biological sciences excluding biochemistry and (7) all other science subjects in each of the last five years to which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: The available information is shown in the tables. The figures are taken from data collected by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) which are limited to students who apply to full-time undergraduate courses via the UCAS application system. The figures do not therefore cover part-time students, nor those full-time students who apply directly to higher education institutions.
	Figures for Oxford and Cambridge Universities are not available because, for confidentiality reasons, UCAS do not release combinations of variables through which the data of individual institutions, or small groups of institutions, might be identifiable, beyond those already in the public domain.
	UCAS do not hold information on students from low-participation neighbourhoods.
	
		
			  Applications( 1)  from UK domiciled pupils known to be in socio-economic classes 4-7 to  Russell Group and Non-Russell Group( 2)  Institutions in the UK by subject of study: year of entry 2002 - 06 
			   Year of entry 
			  Subject of study  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  Physics  
			  Number  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 1,753 1,732 1,535 1,661 1,670 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 1,567 1,558 1,318 1,513 1,336 
			 Total 3,320 3,290 2,853 3,174 3,006 
			  Percentage  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 52.8 52.6 53.8 52.3 55.6 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 47.2 47.4 46.2 47.7 44.4 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			  Chemistry  
			  Number  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 1,501 1,584 1,573 1,866 1,926 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 2,425 2,309 2,277 2,143 2,130 
			 Total 3,926 3,893 3,850 4,009 4,056 
			  Percentage  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 38.2 40.7 40.9 46.5 47.5 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 61.8 59.3 59.1 53.5 52.5 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			  Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry( 3)  
			  Number  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 1,380 1,279 1,169 1,230 1,092 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 1,255 1,142 1,375 1,331 1,210 
			 Total 2,635 2,421 2,544 2,561 2,302 
			  Percentage  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 52.4 52.8 46.0 48.0 47.4 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 47.6 47.2 54.0 52.0 52.6 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			  Psychology  
			  Number  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 4,073 4,387 4,204 4,151 3,927 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 13,229 14,825 13,928 15,587 14,907 
			 Total 77,302 19,272 18,132 19,738 78,834 
			  Percentage  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 23.5 22.8 23.2 21.0 20.9 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 76.5 77.2 76.8 79.0 79.1 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			  Sports Science  
			  Number  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 283 479 418 465 387 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 10,178 11,351 11,413 12,519 12,790 
			 Total 10,461 11,830 11,831 12,984 13,177 
			  Percentage  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 2.7 4.0 3.5 3.6 2.9 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 97.3 96.0 96.5 96.4 97.1 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			  Biological Sciences Excluding Biochemistry  
			  Number  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 3,735 3,511 3,252 3,280 2,854 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 6,723 6,387 5,925 5,808 5,327 
			 Total 10,458 9,898 9,177 9,088 8,181 
			  Percentage  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 35.7 35.5 35.4 36.1 34.9 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 64.3 64.5 64.6 63.9 65.1 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			  All Other Science Subjects  
			  Number  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 31,993 32,935 34,631 37,847 37,830 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 99,763 98,512 96,196 101,335 97,439 
			 Total 131,756 131,447 130,827 139,182 135,269 
			  Percentage  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 24.3 25.1 26.5 27.2 28.0 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 75.7 74.9 73.5 72.8 72.0 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			 (1) Applicants to UCAS can submit up to six applications, in this table students have been counted once for each application they submit. (2 )Includes all other HE and FE institutions covered by the UCAS application system, other than Russell-Group institutions. (3 )Subject figures for Biochemistry can only be displayed as the overall group Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry.  Source:  Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) 
		
	
	
		
			  Acceptances from UK domiciled pupils known to be in socio-economic classes 4-7 to  Russell Group and Non-Russell Group( 1)  Institutions in the UK by subject of study: year of entry 2002 - 06 
			   Year of entry 
			  Subject of study  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  Physics  
			  Number  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 321 289 287 301 280 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 265 251 204 235 234 
			 Total 586 540 491 536 514 
			  Percentage  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 54.8 53.5 58.5 56.2 54.5 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 45.2 46.5 41.5 43.8 45.5 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			  Chemistry  
			  Number  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 301 299 315 344 338 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 435 405 358 399 383 
			 Total 736 704 673 743 721 
			  Percentage  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 40.9 42.5 46.8 46.3 46.9 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 59.1 57.5 53.2 53.7 53.1 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			  Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry( 2)  
			  Number  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 228 199 183 197 191 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 171 190 213 217 218 
			 Total 399 389 396 414 409 
			  Percentage  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 57.1 51.2 46.2 47.6 46.7 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 42.9 48.8 53.8 52.4 53.3 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			  Psychology  
			  Number  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 431 385 379 405 384 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 2,235 2,523 2,446 2,725 2,557 
			 Total 2,666 2,908 2,825 3,130 2,941 
			  Percentage  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 16.2 13.2 13.4 12.9 13.1 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 83.8 86.8 86.6 87.1 86.9 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			  Sports Science  
			  Number  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 38 42 40 46 30 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 1,910 2,126 2,141 2,471 2,420 
			 Total 7,948 2,168 2,181 2,517 2,450 
			  Percentage  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.2 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 98.0 98.1 98.2 98.2 98.8 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			  Biological Sciences Excluding Biochemistry  
			  Number  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 632 601 552 542 469 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 1,209 1,192 1,114 1,130 964 
			 Total 1,841 1,793 1,666 1,672 1,433 
			  Percentage  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 34.3 33.5 33.1 32.4 32.7 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 65.7 66.5 66.9 67.6 67.3 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			  All Other Science Subjects  
			  Number  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 4,770 4,870 4,861 5,060 4,833 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 19,651 19,176 18,595 19,487 17,998 
			 Total 24,421 24,046 23,456 24,547 22,831 
			  Percentage  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 19.5 20.3 20.7 20.6 21.2 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(2) 80.5 79.7 79.3 79.4 78.8 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			 (1) Includes all other HE and FE institutions covered by the UCAS application system, other than Russell-Group institutions. (2 )Subject figures for Biochemistry can only be displayed as the overall group Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry.  Source:  Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)

Higher Education: Admissions

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  how many  (a) girls and  (b) boys were accepted to study (i) physics, (ii) chemistry, (iii) biochemistry, (iv) psychology and (v) sports science at (A) Oxbridge, (B) a Russell Group university and (C) other universities from (1) comprehensive schools, (2) further or higher education institutions, (3) grammar schools, (4) independent schools, (5) sixth form centres, (6) sixth form colleges and (7) other institutions in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many  (a) girls and  (b) boys applied to study (i) physics, (ii) chemistry, (iii) biochemistry, (iv) psychology and (v) sports science at (A) Oxbridge, (B) a Russell Group university and (C) other universities from (1) comprehensive schools, (2) further or higher education institutions, (3) grammar schools, (4) independent schools, (5) sixth form centres, (6) sixth form colleges and (7) other institutions in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: The available information is shown in the tables. The figures are taken from data collected by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) which are limited to students who apply to full-time undergraduate courses via the UCAS application system. The figures do not therefore cover part-time students, nor those full-time students who apply directly to higher education institutions.
	Figures for Oxbridge are not available because, for confidentiality reasons, UCAS do not release combinations of variables through which the data of individual institutions, or small groups of institutions, might be identifiable, beyond those already in the public domain.
	
		
			  Acceptances from male UK domiciled pupils to Russell Group and non-Russell Grou p( 1)( ) ,  Institutions in the UK by subject of study and type of previous institution( 2) , y ear of entry 2002 - 06 
			   Year of  e ntry 
			  Type of previous institution  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  Comprehensive schools  
			  Physics  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 500 509 473 492 531 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 420 381 348 358 421 
			 Total 920 890 821 850 952 
			   
			  Chemistry  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 291 281 305 389 378 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 330 310 358 377 381 
			 Total 621 591 663 766 759 
			   
			  Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistr y( 3)  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 161 155 141 151 123 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 104 114 111 122 111 
			 Total 265 269 252 273 234 
			   
			  Psychology  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 99 102 100 113 110 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 451 484 470 549 575 
			 Total 550 586 570 662 685 
			   
			  Sports Science  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 38 41 51 69 43 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 1,276 1,350 1,387 1,644 1,641 
			 Total 1,314 1,391 1,438 1,713 1,684 
			   
			  Further or Higher Education Institutions  
			  Physics  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 111 78 94 93 96 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions (1) 101 106 84 91 91 
			 Total 212 184 178 184 787 
			   
			  Chemistry  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 65 57 74 80 83 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 118 100 107 111 125 
			 Total 183 157 181 191 208 
			   
			  Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistr y( 3)  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 29 31 20 40 37 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 42 59 46 66 82 
			 Total 71 90 66 706 119 
			   
			  Psychology  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 51 36 31 51 48 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 324 378 391 382 442 
			 Total 375 414 422 433 490 
			   
			  Sports Science  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 12 10 7 7 16 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 1,178 1,305 1,307 1,470 1,814 
			 Total 1,190 1,315 1,314 1,477 1,830 
			   
			  Grammar Schools  
			  Physics  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 135 135 118 115 141 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 35 45 47 59 39 
			 Total 170 780 165 174 180 
			   
			  Chemistry  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 64 68 52 93 95 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 28 36 33 46 51 
			 Total 92 104 85 139 146 
			   
			  Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry( 3)  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 61 44 49 49 35 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 17 13 20 23 19 
			 Total 78 57 69 72 54 
			   
			  Psychology  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 54 45 54 60 45 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 89 114 82 120 101 
			 Total 143 159 736 180 146 
			   
			  Sports Science  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 8 2 16 6 1 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 100 136 140 153 155 
			 Total 108 138 156 759 762 
			   
			  Independent Schools  
			 Physics  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 176 186 195 171 183 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 62 93 73 78 61 
			 Total 238 279 268 249 244 
			   
			  Chemistry  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 180 151 152 179 178 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 49 64 80 63 87 
			 Total 229 215 232 242 265 
			   
			  Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry( 3)  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 110 95 100 112 95 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 23 36 37 31 34 
			 Total 133 131 137 743 729 
			   
			  Psychology  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 99 93 112 104 74 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 154 147 158 136 117 
			 Total 253 240 270 240 797 
			   
			  Sports Science  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 17 18 15 25 17 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 216 229 231 239 254 
			 Total 233 247 246 264 277 
			   
			  Sixth Form Centres  
			  Physics  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 18 14 11 11 13 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 6 11 8 9 4 
			 Total 24 25 19 20 77 
			   
			  Chemistry  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 11 8 6 11 10 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 4 7 5 7 4 
			 Total 15 15 11 18 74 
			  Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry( 3)  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 7 4 8 8 2 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 9 3 6 6 6 
			 Total 16 7 14 14 8 
			   
			  Psychology  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 5 3 5 1 1 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 16 20 25 16 12 
			 Total 21 23 30 17 73 
			   
			  Sports Science  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 31 37 30 28 43 
			 Total 31 37 30 28 44 
			   
			  Sixth Form Colleges  
			  Physics  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 147 154 135 134 143 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 84 86 77 101 102 
			 Total 231 240 212 235 245 
			   
			  Chemistry  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 106 94 118 150 144 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 99 95 100 124 130 
			 Total 205 189 218 274 274 
			   
			  Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry( 3)  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 43 44 48 77 48 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 24 60 52 56 60 
			 Total 67 104 100 733 708 
			   
			  Psychology  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 50 48 53 41 43 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 182 227 213 295 254 
			 Total 232 275 266 336 297 
			   
			  Sports Science  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 11 11 13 13 9 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 504 542 531 634 649 
			 Total 515 553 544 647 658 
			   
			  Other Institutions  
			 Physics at Russell Group Institutions 131 130 122 144 135 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 69 68 74 75 72 
			 Total 200 198 796 279 207 
			  Chemistry  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 80 87 84 95 92 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 50 79 68 71 86 
			 Total 130 166 752 766 778 
			   
			  Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry( 3)  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 40 50 42 61 43 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 21 22 35 38 34 
			 Total 61 72 77 99 77 
			   
			  Psychology  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 23 27 20 26 36 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 96 120 122 141 147 
			 Total 119 747 742 767 783 
			   
			  Sports Science  
			 at Russell Group Institutions 5 14 12 11 9 
			 Non-Russell Group Institutions(1) 270 283 309 374 344 
			 Total 275 297 327 385 353 
			 (1) Includes all other HE and FE institutions covered by the UCAS application system, other than Russell-Group institutions. (2) Excludes a small amount of students with an unknown previous institution. (3) Subject figures for Biochemistry can only be displayed as the overall group Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry.  Source:  Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)

Intellectual Property: India

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what progress has been made on the UK/India intellectual property rights programme since its signing in 2004.

Ian Pearson: The Joint Statement of Intent was signed in June 2006. Under the JETCO (Joint Economic Trade Committee) agreement between India and the UK, we are currently developing a bilateral action plan with the Indian IPR authorities in order to put in place a technical assistance programme for Indian government officials dealing with IP.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan: Drugs

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to discourage farmers in Afghanistan from growing opium for use in illegal drugs.

Douglas Alexander: The UK Government support the Afghan National Drug Control Strategy (NDCS) whose goal is to secure a sustainable decrease in cultivation, production, trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs, with a view to complete and sustainable elimination. The NDCS sets out four national priorities: disrupting the drugs trade by targeting traffickers and their backers; reducing the demand for illicit drugs and treatment of problem drug users; developing state institutions at the central and provincial level vital to the delivery of the overall counter-narcotics strategy; and strengthening and diversifying legal rural livelihoods that free farmers and other rural workers from dependence on poppy cultivation.
	DFID has lead responsibility within HMG for delivering the fourth NDCS priority, providing £77 million from 2005-07 to support the development of legal rural livelihoods. The majority of these resources have been channelled through the Government of Afghanistan's own National Priority Programmes. This helps to ensure that other measures designed to discourage poppy growing are effective.
	There is no one single crop which will replace poppy, and therefore DFID has provided £3 million to support research into a range of alternatives including high value crops such as mint and saffron. Traditional alternatives include crops such as wheat and
	onions.
	But alternatives to poppy come not only in the form of different crops. They can often be non-farm activities such as clothes-making and shopkeeping. The Government of Afghanistan's Microfinance Investment Support Facility of Afghanistan (MISFA) have provided over £133 million worth of small loans to 364,786 Afghan families to help them invest in their own licit businesses. MISFA operates in 23 provinces, including Helmand. DFID has provided £15 million to MISFA since March 2004. Nearly 75 per cent. of those receiving loans are women.
	DFID also provided £18 million in 2005-06 to the Government of Afghanistan's National Rural Access Programme (NRAP), which has so far built or repaired over 9,000 km of roads—essential for rural farmers to access markets. So far the programme has generated over 13 million days of labour for Afghans. NRAP operates in all 34 provinces.
	DFID has also provided £42.6 million in total for the National Solidarity Programme (NSP) and is providing £10.6 million to roll out NSP in Helmand province (2006-09). NSP is helping elected Community Development Councils (CDCs), representing over 17,000 communities across Afghanistan, identify development priorities in their areas and then receive grants to undertake the work. This broader social development can help instil essential trust in the Government of Afghanistan among poppy farmers. NSP has funded over 28,000 projects in agriculture, education, health, irrigation, power supply, transport, and water supply. NSP currently operates in all 34 provinces.
	DFID is making a contribution of £22.7 million over three years (as part of an overall UK Government contribution of £30 million) to the Government of Afghanistan's Counter Narcotics Trust Fund. The fund is designed to bring funding for counter narcotics into the national budget, and give Afghans greater responsibility for managing the drugs problem.

Departments: Common Purpose

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department paid to Common Purpose in each of the last five years; for what purpose; and what the outcome of the expenditure was.

Gareth Thomas: DFID has provided the following funding to Common Purpose in each of the last 5 years.
	
		
			   £ 
			 2002 35,792 
			 2003 117,644 
			 2004 27,897 
			 2005 0 
			 2006 0 
		
	
	This funding was provided through our Civil Society Challenge Fund in support of a three-year project in South Africa which ended in 2004.
	This project provided training programmes designed to build the capacity of leaders from all sectors to undertake civic leadership and management roles more effectively.
	An independent evaluation conducted in February 2005 found that the project met all its objectives.

Developing Countries

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what criteria are used to determine whether a country is a heavily indebted poor country.

Gareth Thomas: To be eligible for debt relief under the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative, as defined by the international system, a country must:
	have unsustainable debts (debt-to-export levels above 150 per cent. or debt-to-government revenues above 250 per cent.) after the application of traditional debt relief measures, such as those offered by the Paris Club group of government creditors;
	only be eligible for assistance on highly concessional terms from the International Development Association (IDA) at the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility;
	establish a track record of reform and implement a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, using the savings from debt relief to reduce poverty;
	and have cleared any outstanding arrears to the International Financial Institutions.
	Each heavily indebted poor country has to decide whether or not to seek debt cancellation under the HIPC initiative. Those that complete the HIPC process are granted complete cancellation of their debts to the IMF, IDA and African Development Fund under HIPC and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative.

Education

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contact his Department has had with Applied Scholastics since 1997.

Gareth Thomas: DFID staff have not had any direct contact with Applied Scholastics in the course of our support to education in developing countries since 1997.

Gambia: Education

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money from the public purse has been provided to the Gambian Government for education programmes  (a) by the Government directly and  (b) through other institutions in each year since 1997.

Gareth Thomas: DFID did not provide any aid directly to the Gambian Government for education over the period 1997-98 to 2006-07. Most aid for the education sector in Gambia is delivered in the form of technical co-operation.
	UK funding to multilateral institutions cannot be directly attributed to any country or sector.

Gambia: Education

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the Gambian education system's adoption of the Applied Scholastics programme.

Gareth Thomas: We have not undertaken such an assessment in the absence of a Gambian Government request for DFID to consider. We understand that the current Department of Education is much less enthusiastic about developing this approach throughout the Gambia than its predecessors.

Namibia: EU Aid

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has made to the European Commission over EU aid to Namibia.

Gareth Thomas: DFID has made no representations to the European Commission regarding EU aid to Namibia.

Nepal

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when the most recent visit took place by a Minister in his Department to Nepal; and what the outcomes were of the visit.

Shahid Malik: My hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Thomas) Under-Secretary of State for International Development visited Nepal from 2 to 4 April 2007, a day after the formation of the eight-party interim government in Nepal. During the visit he met politicians from all parties, including the Maoists, representatives from excluded groups and visited DFID-funded programmes. He also had discussions with the UN Mission in Nepal.
	The visit focused on the need for credible, free and fair elections, the importance of a well targeted peace dividend and improved government basic service delivery in the post conflict environment and the need for an inclusive political process. My hon. Friend also announced significant increases in UK development support including £13 million for the government-managed Peace Trust Fund and £23.5 million in multilateral debt relief for the period up to 2015.

Nepal

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid was provided to Nepal in each of the last five years, broken down by sector; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: The total DFID bilateral expenditure to Nepal in each of the last five financial years, broken down by sector, is given in table 1 as follows:
	
		
			  Table 1: total DFID bilateral aid to Nepal by broad sector 
			  £000 
			  Broad sector  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07( 1) 
			 Economic 5,828 8,406 7,228 5,283 8,939 
			 Education 358 490 2,637 6,154 4,173 
			 Health 5,751 5,023 5,734 8,374 9,002 
			 Governance 3,305 2,704 3,256 2,650 2,416 
			 Social 2,045 4,044 4,467 4,263 5,444 
			 Humanitarian 2,362 4,495 4,218 1,133 2,161 
			 Livelihoods 5,961 6,397 7,533 6,280 5,972 
			 Environment 411 113 0 0 0 
			 Unallocated(2) 1,140 376 12 52 4,725 
			 Total 27,162 32,047 35,085 34,188 42,833 
			 (1) Provisional data. (2) Unallocated to sector and comprises expenditure on administration costs in-country and other projects not easily classified to an aid sector. 
		
	
	UK funding to multilateral institutions cannot be directly attributed to any country or broken down by sector. However, table 2 contains estimates of the UK's imputed shares of multilateral aid to Nepal, based on the UK's total funding to multilateral institutions and the percentage share of aid from the multilateral pool that went to Nepal. These estimates are only available on a calendar year basis.
	
		
			  Table 2: imputed UK share of multilateral aid to Nepal, 2001-05 
			  £000 
			   Imputed multilateral aid 
			 2001 7,461 
			 2002 2,935 
			 2003 14,639 
			 2004 4,303 
			 2005 3,592 
			  Notes: 1. Data for 2006 are not yet available. 2. The list of multilateral organisations used in the production of these data is not exhaustive; the multilateral analysed are those that provide the Development Assistance Committee with detailed information about their distribution of funds to Nepal and to whom the UK provided funds over the period.

Nepal: International Assistance

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what national programmes his Department funds in health and education which reach Jiling, Nuwakot in Nepal.

Shahid Malik: DFID is helping to fund the Nepal Health Sector Programme (NHSP). Under this programme the communities of Jiling village have received preventive health service and basic curative care from an Auxiliary Health Worker and a Maternal and Child Health Worker delivered through a sub health post. Mothers in Jiling will have benefited from a maternal grants scheme which provides financial incentives for pregnant women to use skilled birth attendants.
	Under the DFID funded Education for All (EFA) programme, 11 schools are receiving funding support in the Nuwakot district. Of the 11 schools, one is a higher secondary school, three are lower secondary schools and seven are primary schools.

Nepal: International Assistance

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department is providing to people living in Jiling village in Nuwakot district in Nepal.

Shahid Malik: DFID funded support to infrastructure, health services and education have brought benefits to Jiling village in Nuwakot district.
	DFID is funding the work of Helvetas, a Swiss NGO working in Nepal. Under this programme, two short span trail bridges have been constructed which have improved access to health and education services as well as to vegetable and agricultural markets based at the District Headquarters. Approximately 850 households have benefited from this construction programme
	DFID is helping to fund the Nepal Health Sector Programme (NHSP). Under this programme the communities of Jiling village have received preventive health service and basic curative care from an Auxiliary Health Worker and a Maternal and Child Health Worker delivered through a sub health post. Mothers in Jiling will have benefited from a maternal grants scheme which provides financial incentives for pregnant women to use skilled birth attendants. DFID have provided finance for this scheme through support for a National Safer Motherhood programme.
	Similarly, under the DFID funded Education for All (EFA) programme, eleven schools are receiving funding support in the Nuwakot district. Of the eleven schools, one is a higher secondary school, three are lower secondary schools and seven are primary schools.

Pakistan: Storms

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the situation caused by the cyclone in the Balochistan province of Pakistan; and what assistance his Department is making available to the people affected.

Shahid Malik: DFID has been closely watching the developing humanitarian situation in south and west Pakistan as a result of the recent cyclone and heavy monsoon rains. These have had a significant impact on parts of Sindh, Balochistan, North West Frontier Province and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
	A grant of up to £1 million has been approved for immediate support. A team of two DFID humanitarian specialists has now been deployed into Pakistan to assess the situation and potential DFID support. A UN specialist team is also deploying, two of whose five team members are being supported by DFID.
	We will keep the situation under very close review, as further heavy rains are expected.

Sierra Leone: Overseas Aid

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has received on illegal uses of aid funds in Sierra Leone.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development has received no representations on illegal uses of aid funds in Sierra Leone.

Somalia: Asylum

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his estimate is of the number of Somalian refugees living in  (a) Ethiopia and  (b) Kenya; and what assistance is being provided to these countries to assist with Somalian refugees.

Gareth Thomas: The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that there are 19,572 Somali refugees residing in Ethiopia and 182,000 in Kenya.
	DFID has provided funding to UNHCR, the United Nations agency responsible for protecting and supporting refugees. In 2006 the UK was the seventh largest donor to UNHCR providing $51.99 million. Further UK support is given through the UN Central Emergency Revolving Fund (CERF), which contributed $5.6 million and $2.1 million to UNHCR for refugee support in Kenya and Ethiopia respectively.
	In November 2006 DFID Kenya provided £1.2 million to UNHCR for its refugee programme in North Eastern Kenya. We have also recently approved a grant of £850,000 to Action Against Hunger, an NGO providing emergency feeding for malnourished children including those in refugee camps. We have also approved £650,000 to the MENTOR Initiative for malaria control in north eastern Kenya including indoor residual spraying in the refugee camps.
	In Ethiopia DFID is supporting the Humanitarian Response Fund managed by the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. This fund, to which DFID has contributed £5 million in 2006, can be used to assist refugees if this is deemed a humanitarian priority.

JUSTICE

Databases

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects the database under development by the Pre-Release Section to be operational.

David Hanson: A new database for the Public Protection Unit in the National Offender Management Service in the Ministry of Justice is currently in development. For the Pre-Release Section in that unit, the database will allow, among other things, information to be recorded accurately relating to the tariff, Parole Board reviews and release of indeterminate sentence prisoners. There will need to be substantial data migration and testing of the new database, and this means that it is not likely to be operational until at least the end of the year.

Departments: Common Purpose

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department paid to Common Purpose in each of the last five years; for what purpose; and what the outcome of the expenditure was.

Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Justice was created on 9 May 2007. In the former DCA, the decision to fund Common Purpose was made at a regional level from discretionary budgets. Information on any allocation made was not held centrally. Information is not currently available on expenditure on Common Purpose for those who joined the new Ministry from the Home Office.

High Court: Ceremonies

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the purpose was of the ceremony he attended at the High Court on 4 July; what undertakings he gave; what oaths he swore; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: On 4 July I attended a formal ceremony of the public acclamation of my appointment to the office of Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. At that ceremony I took the Oath of Allegiance, the Official Oath of Office as required by the Promissory Oaths Act 1868 ("the 1868 Act") and the new Oath required by section 17 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 ("the CRA 2005") in open Court in the presence of the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales and the senior judiciary. The Oaths were:
	 Oath of Allegiance:
	I John Whitaker Straw do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, her heirs and successors, according to law.
	 Official Oath:
	I John Whitaker Straw do swear that I will well and truly serve Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second in the Office of Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain.
	 The new Oath:
	I John Whitaker Straw, do swear that in the Office of Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain I will respect the rule of law, defend the independence of the judiciary and discharge my duty to ensure provision of resources for the efficient and effective support of the courts for which I am responsible. So help me God.
	Prior to the coming into force of the CRA 2005 the Oaths taken, were those prescribed in Part 1 of the 1868 Act. The Oath of Allegiance and Official Oath are still taken in accordance with sections 2, 3 and 5 of the 1868 Act. However the requirement that the Lord Chancellor take the Judicial Oath in the form prescribed by section 6 and the second part of the Schedule to the 1868 Act was obviated by section 17 and Schedule 17 of the CRA 2005 which prescribed a new Oath as set out earlier in this answer. The long-standing format of the ceremonial was therefore amended to take account of the legislative changes which reflect the fact that the holder of the office of Lord Chancellor is no longer head of the judiciary and safeguards the interests of the judiciary as set out in the new Oath.

Legal Aid Scheme: Wales

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how legal aid funding was spent across Wales through the Crown courts in each of the last seven years, broken down by  (a) the lowest possible geographical areas for which figures are available,  (b) the type of case and  (c) the nature of the work for which the legal aid was paid; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Legal Aid Scheme: Wales

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of legal cases in Wales were in receipt of legal aid in each of the last seven years, broken down  (a) to the lowest possible geographical areas for which figures are available,  (b) the type of case and  (c) the nature of the work for which legal aid was paid; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The information is not available.

Police Custody: Wales

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much Welsh police forces have spent on housing prisoners under Operation Safeguard in each month since it began; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: Police forces participating in Operation Safeguard charge NOMS for the cost of making police cells available to accommodate prisoners. To date, just over £400,000 has been invoiced and paid to police forces in Wales for housing prisoners since October 2006. As different police forces may submit monthly, bi-monthly or consolidated invoices in arrears that cover more than one month, the cost of Operation Safeguard in each month is not centrally held.

Prison Accommodation

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice why different targets have been set for prisons run in the  (a) public and  (b) private sectors for the percentage of prisoners held in accommodation units intended for fewer prisoners.

David Hanson: The difference in these targets reflects a number of differences between publicly and privately operated prisons. Prisons operated by the private sector are generally of newer design and construction and have larger cells that can accommodate extra beds: many older public sector prisons have smaller cells that cannot accommodate extra beds. Some privately operated prisons were designed with scope to increase regime facilities in case of overcrowding while many public sector prisons have limited capacity to increase regime services. The private sector also has, proportionately, more local prisons, which have traditionally been more overcrowded than other types of prison.

Prison Service: Prison Officers' Association

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost to the public purse has been of the recent case brought by the Prison Service against the Prison Officers Association; what response he has made to the judgment; and what steps he has taken to improve the relationship between the Service and the Association.

David Hanson: The Prison Service's legal costs in the contempt of court case brought by the Service against the Prison Officers Association (POA) in May were estimated by Treasury solicitors to be about £16,000. Administrative and staffing costs within the Service are not able to be broken down to the level of detail required.
	Following the settlement of this case on 8 May 2007, the Service received notice from the POA of their withdrawal from the Joint Industrial Relations Procedural Agreement. The Secretary of State met the POA on 6 June to discuss their withdrawal. I had a constructive meeting with the POA on 26 June to identify options for substantive talks to improve industrial relations.

Prisons: Psychology

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost of living increase in 2007 will be for forensic psychologists (in training) in the prison service.

David Hanson: The Prison Service has received a number of inquiries about the lack of a cost-of-living increase for psychology and other specialist grades in 2006. However, those staff who did not receive a cost-of-living increase could still have benefited from a progression-related pay increase of up to 3 per cent. Negotiations with the trade unions for the 2007 pay award are continuing.

Re-offenders

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice what steps he is taking to ensure that information about a defendant's status as a persistent and prolific offender is disclosable to the court prior to sentencing.

Bridget Prentice: Guidance to the courts on handling Prolific and other Priority Offender (PPO) cases was issued by the Senior Presiding Judge in April 2005.
	This sets out that it is inappropriate for any person to inform a court that a defendant is alleged to be a PPO and that such an allegation is not relevant to the sentence of the court.
	A sentencing court will however be provided with full details of offending history, previous sentences, current circumstances and a risk assessment, together with the sentencing options available.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Departments: Pay

Theresa May: To ask the Leader of the House how many bonuses were awarded to senior civil servants working in her Office in each year between 1997 and 2006; and at what total cost.

Helen Goodman: Following the recent machinery of Government changes which saw the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons transfer from the Privy Council Office to the Cabinet Office, we are currently unable to provide a substantive answer to this question.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Flexible Working

Lynda Waltho: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what assessment she has made of the merits of encouraging employers to advertise posts as available for flexible working to help lone parents and carers back into the workplace.

Harriet Harman: The benefits of advertising posts as available for flexible working are to give employers access to a bigger pool of talent. Jobcentre Plus are looking at various ways of improving services for carers, including the possibility of recording vacancies where flexible working is an option.

Flexible Working

Annette Brooke: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what assessment she has made of levels of awareness of flexible working rights amongst eligible parents.

Patrick McFadden: I have been asked to reply.
	The Third Work Life Balance employee survey 2006 found that 65 per cent. of parents with children under six are aware of the right to request flexible working.
	This compares favourably with other new employment rights.

Local Authority Employment

Julie Morgan: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what assessment she has made of the reasons for the under-representation of women on local authorities.

Barbara Follett: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government set up the Councillors Commission to, among other things, look at the underrepresentation of women in local government. It aims to report in November 2007 and will make recommendations to help address the imbalances.
	At present women make up 29.3 per cent. of councillors in England. Only three per cent. Of them are from ethnic minorities. I am committed to improving these figures.

Ethnic Minorities

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what steps the Government are taking to tackle inequalities affecting ethnic minority women in the workplace.

Barbara Follett: I have been asked to reply.
	As the EOC's investigation revealed Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Black Caribbean women often struggle to get jobs and progress within them. The Ethnic Minority Employment Task Force will take steps to enable ethnic minority women to address this problem. The establishment of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights will help address instances of multiple discrimination.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 5 June,  Official Report, column 327-8W on alcoholic drinks: young people, when he expects the Police Service of Northern Ireland Community Safety Branch to publish its first set of statistics outlining the number of incidents of underage drinking in public places.

Paul Goggins: PSNI have advised that data are currently being collected about the number of young people who are detected drinking alcohol and dealt with through the Youth Diversion Scheme.
	This statistical information will be available for issue in January 2008.

Departments: Common Purpose

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department paid to Common Purpose in each of the last five years; for what purpose; and what the outcome of the expenditure was.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office paid £4,395 to Common Purpose during the 2006-07 financial year as part of the Department's Leadership Development Programme for senior managers. The outcome will be evaluated later this year to determine the extent to which the Common Purpose Programme met the identified development needs and contributed to meeting NIO business objectives.

Departments: Performance Appraisal

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff in his Department did not achieve an acceptable mark in their annual report in 2006-07.

Paul Goggins: Within the Northern Ireland Office six members of staff did not achieve an acceptable mark in their annual report in 2006-07.

Departments: Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff in his Department have taken  (a) five or more,  (b) four,  (c) three and  (d) two periods of sick leave of less than five days in the last 12 months.

Paul Goggins: The details requested on sick leave in the last 12 months are shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Number of staff 
			 Five or more periods of sick leave 7 
			 Four periods of sick leave 13 
			 Three periods of sick leave 52 
			 Two periods of sick leave 183

Sexual Offences

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2007,  Official Report, columns 17-18W, on sexual offences, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the 31 per cent. rate of successful prosecutions for rape.

Paul Goggins: Rape and serious sexual assaults are some of the most serious crimes that police have to investigate, especially with regard to the traumatic effect it has on the victims. Historically there have been a significant number of victims who initially report rapes to police but who later decide they do not wish to pursue the investigation through to court. These cases therefore form a major element of the number not proceeding to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS). In addition a significant proportion of those that do proceed to the PPS subsequently fail and go no further due to lack of evidence.
	PSNI are seeking to improve performance in such investigations in a number of ways:
	PSNI have recently contributed to a multi-agency sexual violence strategy. One important aspect of this work is the proposed establishment of a specialist sexual assault referral centre. The improvement in services and support to victims, together with the more effective ways of retaining forensic evidence, is expected to increase the number of prosecutions;
	An internal review has recently been carried out into the way the child abuse and rape enquiry (CARE) teams carry out their investigations. As a result, the PSNI are planning later this year to restructure these investigations by establishing specialist teams whose sole task will be to investigate rape and other serious sexual assaults;
	PSNI and the Public Prosecution Service have recently begun to analyse a number of rape investigations in order that they continue to develop models of best investigative practice. In particular, attention will focus upon case building and the significant number of cases that currently do not make the threshold for prosecution.

Smuggling: Fuels

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland were prosecuted for smuggling fuel into Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	In the year 2004-05 there were four prosecutions for smuggling fuel into Northern Island resulting in two convictions. In 2005-06 there were five prosecutions, but no resulting convictions. In the same year there were two successful prosecutions for dealing with fuel on which duty had not been paid. In 2006-07 there were five prosecutions resulting in five convictions.

PRIME MINISTER

Ministers: Pay

Frank Field: To ask the Prime Minister which Ministers are unpaid; and if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of the provision of facilities for them to carry out their ministerial duties.

Gordon Brown: The cost of the provision of facilities for Ministers who are unpaid will be met from existing departmental budgets.

SCOTLAND

Departments: Common Purpose

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department paid to Common Purpose in each of the last five years; for what purpose; and what the outcome of the expenditure was.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office has made no payments to Common Purpose in the last five years.

Departments: Pensions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what percentage of staff in his Department are making additional voluntary contributions to their pensions; and what steps he has taken in the last 12 months to encourage more people to make such contributions.

David Cairns: The staff in the Scotland Office are on secondment from the Scottish Executive or the Ministry of Justice and remain on the payroll of their parent Department. The Scotland Office does not hold information on which staff avail themselves of AVCs.

Energy Supply

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the First Minister on security of the energy supply  (a) to and  (b) in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

David Cairns: I have not yet had the opportunity to discuss this matter with the First Minister. The Government's Energy White Paper, published in May this year, sets out how we will approach ensuring secure, clean and affordable energy supplies while tackling climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Many of the policies in the White Paper apply to the UK as a whole, although some key areas, such as planning consent for new power stations, are devolved to the Scottish Executive.

Ministerial Duties

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what procedures he will adopt to determine how to prioritise his responsibilities as Secretary of State for Scotland against his other ministerial responsibilities.

David Cairns: The previous two Secretaries of State for Scotland have both undertaken a combined role, holding two portfolios in the Cabinet. It is a tried and tested model and has worked well in the past four years. The approach involves managing priorities and structuring work loads, working in close liaison with ministerial colleagues in both Departments.

TRANSPORT

Bus Services: Concessions

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether free concessionary travel will be available to older and disabled passengers on open-top tourist buses registered as local bus services under the proposed national scheme.

Rosie Winterton: An eligible pass holder will be able to travel for free in the off-peak on any registered local bus service anywhere in England from April next year. Although the Concessionary Bus Travel Bill does not change the definition of what is an eligible service for the statutory concession, we are considering whether changes should be made via an Order in the future if it is decided that clarification is required. In the interim, it will remain for operators and local authorities to assess which services are covered in accordance with the criteria set out in the current legislation.

Bus Services: Concessions

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to allocate the £212 million additional funding being made available to local authorities for the 2008 English National Concessionary Fares Scheme to local authorities according to the costs of each local authority scheme.

Rosie Winterton: The Government will be providing up to an extra £250 million per year for the national bus concession (£212 million after Barnett allocations). We are confident this will be sufficient overall to cover the total extra costs to local authorities.
	The extra funding will either be distributed via the formula grant system (as is the case for current funding of mandatory concession) or specific grant. A decision on the funding route will be made in due course.

Bus Services: Technology

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the cost of introducing smartcard readers to the English bus fleet; and what discussions she has had with representatives of  (a) small and  (b) large bus operators on the schedule for implementing such a scheme.

Rosie Winterton: There is no accurate estimate available for the cost of introducing smartcard readers to the English bus fleet. There would be a wide range of cost estimates depending on the number of eligible buses, the number and scope of back office systems, the extent to which the whole life cost of bus equipment was borne upfront and the impact of higher production volumes on costs.
	Discussions have taken place with bus operators, and local authorities, on the possibility of specifying ITSO compliant smartcards as the format of the pass for the new national bus concession commencing in April 2008. However, these have not covered the schedule for any introduction of smartcard readers.

Car Sharing

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many high occupancy vehicle lanes have been brought into use since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: Three high occupancy vehicle lane schemes have been brought into use in England since 1997. These are on the A370 Long Ashton Bypass in North Somerset, the A647 in Leeds, and the A4174 Avon Ring Road in South Gloucestershire.

Departments: European Union

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials in her Department are  (a) involved in assisting European Council negotiations,  (b) involved in assisting and advising the European Commission,  (c) seconded to the European Commission,  (d) involved in monitoring EU decisions, communications, regulations and directives,  (e) involved in enforcing compliance with EU decisions, communications, regulations and directives and  (f) involved in other work related to the European Council, Commission or Court of Justice.

Rosie Winterton: Officials throughout the Department for Transport are involved in the full range of EU business. Those working specifically on EU business in the Europe, International and Better Regulation Division total 15. The Department currently has four officials seconded to the UK Permanent Representation in Brussels and seven to the European Commission. In the Department as a whole, including its Agencies, resourcing must respond to the level of EU business. A breakdown of the figures as requested would incur disproportionate cost.

Departments: Performance Appraisal

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff in her Department did not achieve an acceptable mark in their annual report in 2006-07.

Jim Fitzpatrick: 47 staff in the Department for Transport did not achieve an acceptable mark in their annual report in 2006-07.

Departments: Public Expenditure

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which projects originally valued at more than £5 million her Department has funded since 1997, broken down by Government Office region; and what  (a) the cost at inception and  (b) the outturn cost at project completion was of each.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to the following NAO publications, which give initial and outturn costs for the West Coast Main Line and Channel Tunnel Rail Link, as well as all Highways Agency schemes:
	HC321 2006-07—Estimating and monitoring the costs of building roads in England;
	HC22 2006-07—The Modernisation of the West Coast Main Line; and
	HC77 2005-06—Progress on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.
	Copies are available from the Libraries of the House.
	The compilation of comparable information for the Department's remaining projects could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Driving Under Influence

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what data her Department has on the number of accidents in each year from 1997 to 2005 that were caused by drivers whose blood alcohol level was  (a) over 80ml,  (b) between 80 and 50ml and  (c) under 50ml; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Blood alcohol content level information is only available for cases in which a driver was killed. Additionally, the blood alcohol content information is only available for approximately two thirds of these driver fatalities. In these cases, the number of reported road accidents involving at least one driver or rider with a blood alcohol level of  (a) over 80ml,  (b) between 50 and 80ml, and  (c) under 50ml is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of accidents 
			  Blood alcohol level  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004 
			 Under 50ml 866 857 881 907 941 892 1,051 926 
			 50-80ml 25 28 26 21 25 24 34 26 
			 Over 80ml 193 166 185 212 219 224 251 261 
		
	
	Final figures for 2005 are not yet available.
	The report of the second three-year review of the Government's road safety strategy, published in February 2007, explains that we are planning a public consultation process on drinking and driving later this year, including ways in which enforcement of laws against drinking and driving might be made easier for the police.

Galileo Project

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Galileo project will have the functionality to facilitate the implementation of a national road-pricing scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Global Navigational Satellite Systems (GNSS), including both GPS and Galileo, can support a wide range of applications. However, no decisions have been taken on whether to proceed with the introduction of a national road pricing scheme or on the technology that might be used to support such a scheme.

M6: Lancashire

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which routes Lancashire county council submitted to the Government in July 2005 as part of the county council's major business case for the Heysham to M6 link.

Rosie Winterton: Lancashire county council's major scheme business case for the Heysham to M6 Link, submitted in July 2005, included details of the Northern Route (the Preferred Option), the Western Route (as the Next Best Option) and online improvements to the existing highway network (as the Lower Cost Option).

M60: Road Signs and Markings

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 11 June 2007,  Official Report, column 727W, on M60: road signs and markings, whether legislative changes are necessary in order for Highways Agency traffic officers to use scrolling arrows in their vehicles to direct traffic on the M60.

Rosie Winterton: Legislative changes would be required to prescribe scrolling arrows for use as traffic signs. It would be possible in principle to authorise these specially for use on the M60, but the chevron symbols are very small, and there are concerns about their safety and effectiveness on high-speed roads. Officials are considering how this might best be assessed.

Public Transport: Urban Areas

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the contribution of late night public transport to public safety, particularly from town and city centres; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Local authorities are addressing crime and fear of crime issues in order to promote public transport use (including for the growing night time economy) through their Local Transport Plans.
	The Department is also currently assessing how the latest Crime and Disorder audits and strategies are addressing transport crime issues, including the public safety of passengers and staff using public transport at night.

TREASURY

Al-Yamamah Project

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 362W, on the Al-Yamamah project, how many different bank accounts were examined as part of budgeting and accounting activities undertaken by his Department in relation to the management fee received by the Ministry of Defence from the Saudi Arabian government as part of the Al-Yamamah programme; and how many staff from his Department were involved in those activities.

Andy Burnham: The Treasury did not examine any bank accounts as part of these activities.

Buildings: Cabinet Office

Oliver Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department has had with the Cabinet Office on Project George in the last 12 months.

Angela Eagle: Treasury Ministers and officials engage with their counterparts in other departments, including the Cabinet Office, on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues.

Departments: Aviation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was allocated to offsetting the carbon dioxide emissions estimated to have arisen from his Department in respect of flights in  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07; and how many tonnes of carbon equivalent were estimated to have arisen from such flights in each case.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 7 February 2007,  Official Report, column 1027W. This year, the Treasury is contributing £18,286 to the DEFRA-run Government Carbon Offsetting Fund, which will offset 1,845 tonnes of carbon emissions from official and ministerial flights from April 2006 to April 2007.

Departments: Property

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1881W to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) on Departments: property, from which organisations his Department received letting income in each financial year from 2003-04 to 2006-07; and how much was received from each organisation.

Angela Eagle: The income the Treasury has received from the subletting of space in the 1 Horse Guards building since 2002-03, by organisation, is given in the following table:
	
		
			  £000 
			   Financial year 
			  Organisation name  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Cabinet Office(1) 67 -47 150 215 1,095 
			 Exchequer Partnership — 227 162 163 162 
			 Office of Government Commerce — — 67 189 185 
			 Royal Mint 18 19 19 18 22 
			 Economics in Government Unit — — — 53 — 
			 Independent Review of NHS Pathology Services — — — — 19 
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office — — 2 2 6 
			 National Association of Pension Funds — — — 6 — 
			 Home Office(2) 175 -175 — — — 
			 Others (received less than £5,000 and corrections) 17 -10 15 12 6 
			 Total 211 14 415 658 1,495 
			 (1) The 2003-04 figure includes a £67,000 credit, which cancels the invoice from the previous year. (2) The 2003-04 figure cancels the invoice from the previous year. 
		
	
	It has been drawn to my attention that a written answer given on 20 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1881W by the former Financial Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth (John Healey), to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) was incorrect in respect to the income received from the subletting of space in 2002-03. The earlier answer reported the total for that year to be nil. However, this figure was net of a transfer of excess income to another account. Before the transfer, the income received from subletting space in the 1 Horse Guards road building during 2002-03 was £277,000. The Treasury very much regrets this inadvertent error.

Departments: Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in his Department have taken  (a) five or more,  (b) four,  (c) three and  (d) two periods of sick leave of less than five days in the last 12 months.

Angela Eagle: The numbers of staff that have taken periods of sick leave of less than five days for the period 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2007 are as follows.
	
		
			  Number of episodes  Number of staff 
			 5+ 31 
			 4 28 
			 3 45 
			 2 109

Departments: Telephone Numbering

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many non-geographic telephone numbers are in use by each of his departmental agencies; and what revenue was received from them in each year since 2001.

Angela Eagle: The following table lists the number of non-geographic telephone numbers in use by each of the agencies and what revenue was received in each year since 2001. In the case of those departmental agencies where numbers are not listed, the information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Name  Number of non geographical numbers  Revenue for period requested (£) 
			 VGA 3 0 
			 GAD 0 0 
			 Royal Mint 85 0 
			 HMT 0 0 
			 OGC 9 0 
			 NS and I 9 0 
			 DMO 320 0 
			 HMRC n/a 0 
			 ONS n/a n/a

General Practitioners: Conditions of Employment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment HM Treasury had made of the cost of a new GP contract prior to his 2002 Budget announcement that the new funding settlement for the NHS would pay for a new contract for family doctors.

Andy Burnham: Discussions took place between Treasury and Department of Health officials on a range of issues before the 2002 Budget.

Health Spending Team

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the objectives are of his Department's Health Spending Team.

Andy Burnham: The Treasury's Health spending team contributes to the Treasury's objectives. These can be viewed at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/about/about_aimsobject.cfm

Industrial and Agricultural Building Allowances Scheme

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received on the changes proposed in the Budget to the industrial and agricultural building allowances scheme; and what assessment he has made of the future impact of such changes on agricultural spending.

Jane Kennedy: By 29 June, the Treasury has received 48 individual representations on the withdrawal of industrial and agricultural buildings allowances.
	A general impact assessment will be published in advance of the relevant legislation, which will be included in Finance Bill 2008.
	The withdrawal of IBAs and ABAs is not an isolated measure. The Budget also announced cuts in both the basic rate of income tax and the main rate of corporation tax and the introduction of a new annual investment allowance (AIA) of £50,000 for business investment from 2008. The specific impact that these reforms will have on agricultural spending, or spending in any other industry cannot therefore be easily assessed or viewed in isolation. Taken as a whole, however, these reforms to the business and personal tax systems are designed to deliver increases in investment and growth overall.

Inheritance Tax: Edinburgh

John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much was raised from inheritance tax on estates within the City of Edinburgh local authority area in each year since 1996;
	(2)  how many estates within the City of Edinburgh local authority area were subject to inheritance tax in each year since 1996.

Jane Kennedy: Figures for estates paying inheritance tax and amounts of tax paid are not available at local levels.

NHS: Consultants

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2007 to the hon. Member for Rayleigh,  Official Report, column 1313W, on NHS: consultants, which of his Department's Ministers were involved in these discussions.

Andy Burnham: Treasury Ministers and officials have frequent discussions with their counterparts at the Department of Health as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.

Public Expenditure: Home Office and the Ministry of Justice

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of annual average real growth is for the budget of  (a) the Home Office and  (b) the Ministry of Justice for the years covered by his Comprehensive Spending Review.

Andy Burnham: The departments concerned are bound by the combined totals agreed by the Home Office and the Department for Constitutional Affairs at their early settlements announced at Budget 2006 and the pre-Budget report 2006 respectively. They are currently in discussions about the transfers of functions and resources associated with the Machinery of Government changes announced on 29 March. Full details of the settlements for all departments, including those involved in Machinery of Government changes, will be announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Public Expenditure: Shropshire

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what total Government spending was for  (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham,  (b) Worcester and  (c) Telford constituency in 2006.

Andy Burnham: Information on total identifiable expenditure per capita for each region of England is set out in the HM Treasury publication, 'Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) 2007', May 2007. This provides outturn data for 2005-06 and planned outturns for 2006-07. The PESA publication is available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/economic_data_and_tools/finance_spending_statistics/pes_publications/pespub_pesa07.cfm.
	The Government do not currently disaggregate spending data below regional level.

Taxation: Domicile

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library the results of the research commissioned by his Department in April 2005 on the economic and fiscal effects of non-domicile exemptions; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he last collected information on changes to the residence and domicile rules and related economic effects; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will place in the Library the results of research commissioned by his Department since April 2005 on the economic and fiscal effects of non-domicile tax exemptions; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  when he last collected information on numbers of people who indicated non-domicile status on their self-assessment tax returns; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The review of the residence and domicile rules that govern personal taxation is on-going; as such, information is collected to support the continuing policy development process as and when necessary. No research has been formally commissioned from external sources.
	The most recent statistics available on the number of people who indicated non-domicile status on their self-assessment tax returns relates to the tax year 2004-05. In that year 112,000 people indicated non-domiciles status.

Taxation: Overseas Residence

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  which officials in his Department are responsible for the ongoing review into non-domicile taxation;
	(2)  which external advisers are involved in the ongoing review into non-domicile taxation;
	(3)  on which dates the review group for non-domicile taxation has met since the review began;
	(4)  whether there  (a) has been and  (b) will be an external consultation period as part of the ongoing review into non-domicile taxation;
	(5)  what the cost was of the review group into non-domicile taxation in each year since 1997;
	(6)  what evidence the review into non-domicile taxation has collected about comparable tax regimes in overseas countries; and if he will make a statement;
	(7)  how many submissions the review group into non-domicile taxation has made to Ministers; and on which dates;
	(8)  if he will publish external submissions to the review for non-domicile taxation.

Jane Kennedy: The review of the residence and domicile rules that govern personal taxation is being led by officials from Her Majesty's Treasury.
	The Background Paper 'Reviewing the residence and domicile rules as they affect the taxation of individuals' published at Budget 2003 outlined research into how other countries' tax personal systems operate. The Background Paper also invited stakeholders to share their views on how the residence domicile rules operate. In addition Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs conducted a series of listening sessions with stakeholders between 2003 and 2005.

Waste Disposal

Andrew Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration the Office of Government Commerce has given to procurement of waste treatment and disposal services.

Angela Eagle: The OGC Kelly Report to the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, 'Improving Competition and Capacity Planning in the Municipal Waste Market', was published in May 2006. It made recommendations designed to tackle procurement barriers in the waste market. This study was conducted with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). DEFRA established the Waste Infrastructure Development Programme to take forward the recommendations. The work of this programme is detailed in DEFRA's 'Waste Strategy for England 2007', which was published in May 2007.

Welfare Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit  (a) maladministration and  (b) consolatory payments were made in each month between October 2006 and June 2007.

Jane Kennedy: The circumstances in which HM Revenue and Customs will make compensation payments to its customers are explained in the Department's fact sheet, "Complaints and Putting Things Right", which is available at: www.hmrc.gov.uk
	The Department will pay compensation for reasonable costs incurred as a direct result of its mistakes or delays and to recognise worry and distress caused by those mistakes and delays. It does not keep separate details of compensation payments made specifically due to "maladministration" or "poor service". The number of compensation payments made in each month between October 2006 and May 2007 is shown in the following table. The number of compensation payments made in June 2007 is not yet available.
	
		
			   Number 
			 October 2006 614 
			 November 2006 663 
			 December 2006 581 
			 January 2007 728 
			 February 2007 739 
			 March 2007 834 
			 April 2007 530 
			 May 2007 813

WALES

Departments: Public Transport

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate his Department has made of the number of its staff using public transport to commute.

Peter Hain: People's travelling patterns vary, and we do not collect information systematically, but we estimate that 75-80 per cent. of Wales Office staff walk, cycle or use public transport to commute to and from work.

Police: Driving Under Influence

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many police officers in Wales were  (a) prosecuted,  (b) disciplined and  (c) dismissed for drink driving related offences in each of the last three years.

Peter Hain: This information is not collected centrally.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Disability Living Allowance

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disability living allowance claims have been made in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: From June 2006 to May 2007, approximately 438,620 claims for disability living allowance were received.

Disability Living Allowance

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disability living allowance claims have been turned down in the last 12 months; how many of these have gone to appeal; how many cases have won their appeal; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Disability living allowance (DLA) claims and appeals 2005-06 
			   Number 
			 DLA claims refused 228,050 
			 DLA appeals lodged 82,990 
			 DLA appeals cleared in favour 35,490 
			  Notes: 1. DLA claims figures are drawn from management information and should not be used in conjunction with sample statistics drawn from the benefit administration systems. 2. Appeals figures are subject to change as more up to date data become available. 3. Appeals figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: DCS computer system and 100 per cent download of the Generic Appeals Processing System

Disability Living Allowance

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disability living allowance awards in the last 12 months have been for  (a) a fixed period and  (b) an indefinite period; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  New DLA awards made in the 12 months to November 2006 
			   Number 
			 Indefinite award 66,000 
			 Fixed award 163,500 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are subject to a high degree of sampling error and should only be used as a guide. 2. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. 3. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 4. Figures have been uprated to be consistent with WPLS data. 5. Figures are for entitled to DLA and will include people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended. 6. Awards are considered to be fixed where the claim has an end date recorded, all others are assumed indefinite.  Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, five per cent sample.

Disability Living Allowance

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have been asked to attend a disability living allowance medical examination in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: 74,013 people were asked to attend a disability living allowance medical examination between June 2006 and May 2007.

Employment Schemes: Advertising

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in which publications his Department will be placing advertising as part of the Employability Initiative.

Anne McGuire: The Employ Ability campaign will be piloted in four cities before further rollout across the UK next year. These cities are Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Bradford. Our primary target audience is small to medium sized employers.
	The Employ Ability campaign is still in development stages and media plans have not been fully finalised. The following regional publications have been provisionally chosen for their relevance with our target audience:
	Metro - Liverpool, Manchester and Yorkshire editions
	Liverpool Daily Post
	Manchester Evening News
	Yorkshire Evening Post
	Bradford Telegraph & Argus
	Business Insider - North West and Yorkshire editions
	EN Magazine - North West
	Business Link - Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
	It should be noted that these titles may be subject to change.

Incapacity Benefit

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in  (a) England and  (b) Milton Keynes claimed incapacity benefits in each year between 1995 and 2007.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance claimants in England and Milton Keynes local authority 
			  Quarter ending  November each year  Milton Keynes  England 
			 1995 6,400 2,234,800 
			 1996 6,500 2,233,100 
			 1997 6,600 2,235,200 
			 1998 6,600 2,188,900 
			 1999 6,750 2,167,270 
			 2000 6,950 2,191,270 
			 2001 7,150 2,216,880 
			 2002 7,310 2,246,080 
			 2003 7,530 2,256,890 
			 2004 7,840 2,257,580 
			 2005 7,270 2,211,600 
			 2006 7,690 2,187,530 
			  Notes: 1. November 1995 to November 1998 (inclusive) numbers are uprated to WPLS totals and rounded to the nearest hundred.  2. November 1999 to November 2006 (inclusive) numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.  3. November 1995 to November 1998 (inclusive) numbers are based on a 5 per cent. sample, and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.  4. These figures should be used as a guide to the current situation only.   Source: DWP Information Directorate five per cent sample and 100 per cent Work and Pensions longitudinal study.

Jobcentre Plus

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what percentage of jobs advertised through Jobcentre Plus referred the applicant to  (a) an employment agency and  (b) an employment business in the last month for which figures are available;
	(2)  what criteria an employment agency or business must meet to have one of their positions advertised through Jobcentre Plus;
	(3)  what proportion of the agencies and businesses advertising positions through Jobcentre Plus have signed the Diversity Matters pledge.

Anne McGuire: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide my hon. Friend with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 5 July 2007:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to rely to your questions about employment agencies and employment businesses that advertise vacancies through Jobcentre Plus; and what proportion of those agencies and businesses have signed the Diversity Matters pledge. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The number of vacancies placed by employment agencies and businesses in May 2007 was 23,414. This equates to 38.2 per cent. of all jobs notified to Jobcentre Plus. We do not differentiate between employment agencies and employment businesses for the purpose of recording vacancies.
	Jobcentre Plus will only accept vacancies from recruitment agencies if they sign a Service Level Agreement (SLA) agreeing to the terms for using our services.
	The SLA specifies that:
	only genuine vacancies will be advertised through the Jobcentre Plus website;
	the vacancy is compliant with all UK legislation and employment law;
	the vacancy has not been placed with the intention of compiling a register;
	the agency has a contract with the employer in respect of the vacancy;
	the agency must supply details of pay, conditions and the end employer; and
	no charges will be made to our customers as a result of applying.
	Jobcentre Plus takes these conditions very seriously and will investigate any complaints that individual agencies are not complying with the terms of the SLA. This ultimately could lead to us terminating service with a recruitment agency in breach of their agreement.
	Since its launch in October 2005 around 600 agencies have signed up to the Diversity Matters Pledge administered by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation. However, we do not know how many of these agencies use Jobcentre Plus to advertise their vacancies and therefore are not able to specify the proportion using Jobcentre Plus that have signed the Diversity Matters pledge.
	I hope this is helpful.